1. Theories of Democratic Government
Theories of democratic government are theories about who has power and influence over public policy and decision making at the local, state, and national levels of government.
Traditional democratic theory—Government depends on the consent of the governed, which may be given directly or through representatives; may include criteria for the measure of “how democratic.”
Pluralist theory—Interest groups compete in the political arena, with each promoting its policy preferences through organized efforts. Conflict among groups may result, requiring bargaining and compromise.

2. Elite theory—A small number of powerful elite (corporate leaders, top military officers, government leaders) form an upper class, which rules in its own self-interest.
Bureaucratic theory—The hierarchical structure and standardized procedures of modern governments allow bureaucrats, who carry out the day-to-day workings of government, to hold the real power over public policy.
Hyperpluralism—Democracy is a system of many groups having so much strength that government is often “pulled” in numerous directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness.

3. Origins of American Government
Influences on American Government
In 1607 the British established a permanent colony at Jamestown, Virginia.
Early colonists brought ideas and traditions that would form the basis of American government as a part of the British colonial empire, and as an independent United States.
Two of the early traditions were limited government and representative government.

4. Ancient Greeks and Romans—Democratic government began with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Their concepts and ideas of direct and representative democracy greatly influenced the American founding fathers.
Magna Carta (1215)—The first attempt to limit the power of the British monarch was the Magna Carta, forced upon the monarch by British nobility. The “Great Charter” guaranteed the nobility certain rights such as trial by jury, due process of law, and protections against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property.
Parliament—Parliament began as an advisory group to the monarch, but as the power of the monarch became more and more limited, Parliament grew to become the lawmaking body of Britain.

5. Parliament
A parliament is the legislature of governments like that of the United Kingdom, in which the legislative and not the executive branch is the highest authority.
The name is derived from the French “parlement,” meaning a discussion, or meeting in which discussions take place.
English Parliament

6. Petition of Right (1628)—The Petition of Right extended the protections of the Magna Carta to include commoners.
The monarch’s powers were further limited by restricting the monarch from taxing without the consent of Parliament, declaring martial law or military rule during peacetime, or housing the military in private homes without the owner’s consent.
Guarantees of trial by jury, even for critics of the monarch, were recognized. The Petition of Right was a challenge to the accepted belief in divine- right of the king.

7. English Bill of Rights (1689)—The English Bill of Rights was an agreement between Parliament and King William and Queen Mary, to prevent future monarchs from abusing their powers.
The Bill of Rights guaranteed free parliamentary elections; the rights of citizens to a fair and speedy trial; freedom from excessive bails and cruel and unusual punishment; the right to petition the king; and protections against standing armies during peacetime.
Suspension of public laws was prohibited, and taxation without the consent of Parliament was made illegal.

8. Enlightenment philosophers—During the Enlightenment Era, philosophers such as John Locke supported the concept of a social contract.
Locke viewed the social contract as a voluntary agreement between the government and the governed. In Two Treatises on Civil Government (1689), Locke argued that people are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property (natural law).
Locke also believed that governments are created to support those rights, but that if the government fails to do so, the people may choose to change their government.
Thomas Jefferson adopted these ideas in the Declaration of Independence. Another Enlightenment thinker, Montesquieu, wrote about the need for branches of government.

9. John Locke, 17th-Century English Philosopher
Ideas attributed to John Locke:
Theory of the social contract
Theory of toleration
Belief that all men are created free and equal
Belief in the separation of church and state
Empiricism: using experience to find truth
John Locke’s ideas directly influenced the French, American, and Latin American revolutions.
His ideas can be found in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

10. John Locke’s Social Contract
John Locke proposed that people have the natural right to life, liberty, and property.
In his book Two Treatises of Government, Locke states that if a government fails to uphold these natural rights, people have the right to rebel and overthrow the government.
Locke’s social contract suggests that people and government are bound to each other by consent.
Locke’s theory of the "consent of the governed" contrasts with the "divine right of kings."
The concept of social contract underlies the principles of the United States Constitution.

11. Colonial Experiences
From 1607 to 1776, the American colonies were in a continuous state of political self-development.
This was due to several factors, such as the long distance from England, indifference of the colonists to the king’s authority, and the disputed political authority in England.
As the colonies developed, they made the most of their English heritage but made changes to create a new and unique style of government. This new government was founded on the principles of equality, liberty, and limited government.

12. Colonial charters—Each colony was founded on the basis of a charter from the king.
The charter authorized the colony’s existence and established its political authority.
Royal, proprietary, and charter colonies were founded, each operating with executive, legislative, and judicial roles.
The authority of governors, legislatures, and judges depended on the type of colony and its charter.

13. House of Burgesses—In 1619 Virginia established the first representative legislature in the American colonies. Only adult male property owners could vote for its members.
Mayflower Compact—In 1620 colonists aboard the Mayflower signed an agreement, a social contract, called the Mayflower Compact.
This agreement established a government for the colony based on the ideas of consent of the governed and limitations on the authority of government.

14. The Mayflower