1. Warm Up: Answer the following questions on a clean sheet of paper to be turned in.
1) Who holds the power in a dictatorship? Who holds the power in a democracy?
2) How is governmental power distributed within a unitary state?
3) What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches in our Presidential government?

2. (1.3) Origins of Democracy
U.S. Government and Politics
Standard USG-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of foundational American political principles and the historical events and philosophical ideas that shaped the development and application of these principles.

3. Recap of Types of Government
3 ways to classify/describe/compare and analyze governments
1) Who can participate in the governing process
2) The distribution of governmental power within the state
3) The relationship between the legislative and executive branches

4. Origins of Democracy
The roots of democratic government in today’s world – including government in the United States – lie deep in human history.
The American government was certainly built upon the past.
What influences have established the American form of democracy?

5. Roots / Stages of Democracy
Athenian Democracy
Roman Republic
Feudalism
Sovereignty
Democracy

6. Roots of Democracy
Focus on the flow/distribution/division of power from Athens, Greece to today.
Athenian Democracy = direct democracy →
Roman Republic = republic →
Feudalism = marked collapse of centralized authority (enter the Lord-vassal relationship) →
Sovereignty = rise of monarchies (centralize government with broad authority) →
Democracy = limited government, separation of powers, federalism

7. Key concepts of sovereignty
Power
Ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions.
Power is essential to answering the questions of “Who Governs?” and “To what ends?”
Authority
The right to use power
Legitimacy
that which makes authority a source of right
Example: In United States – a Constitution

8. Impact of the Enlightenment Era
The enlightenment thinkers (1700s - Europe) had a lot of influence on the development of the American government and its key documents.
The Enlightenment is all over the US constitution. Ideas in the constitution came from several different Enlightenment thinkers.

9. Impact of the Enlightenment Era
Enlightenment thinkers
John Locke: Natural rights philosophy
Montesquieu: ideas of separation of power with checks and balances.
Rosseau: concept of direct democracy. The people vote on their congressmen and president.
Volitaire: protection of civil liberties

10. Conclusions / Takeaways
Quick write and report out:
Select one of the enlightenment thinkers you believe had the biggest influence on the U.S. Constitution and explain why.