1. Intro to Government
American Government 8/29

2. What is Government?
What comes to mind when you think of a “government”?
A government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies.
Public policies are all of the things a government decides to do.
Politics is the process, while government is the institution.

3. Power
In order for a government to function it must have power. Every government exercises three basic types of power:
1. Legislative Power- the power to make laws and frame policy
2. Executive Power- the power to execute, enforce, & administer laws
3. Judicial Power- The power to interpret laws and settle disputes

4. Definition:
A body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government.
Added Info:
Does not always have to be written down.
Examples:
The American Constitution:
Ratified in 1789 and is the oldest surviving constitution in the world.
Image:
Constitution

5. Classifying Governments*
Who can participate
The geographic distribution of power within the state
Relationship between the legislative & executive branches
Dictatorship
Democracy
Unitary
Federal
Confederation
President
Parliamentary
*these classifications are not mutually exclusive.

6. Definition:
Supreme authority rests with the people
Added Info:
Can be either:
Direct- people vote directly on all policy
Indirect-people elect representatives to vote in their best interest
Examples:
Recall elections
Voting
Demonstrations
Consent of the people
Image:
Democracy

7. Definition:
Those who rule are not held responsible to the will of the people
Added Info:
Governmental power can be held by one person or a small group of leaders.
This is the most common form of government throughout history.
Examples:
Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany
Josef Stalin and Communist Russia
Moamar Qadaffi in Libya
Assad in Syria
Image:
Dictatorship

8. Definition:
All powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency.
Added Info:
Most governments in the world are unitary in form.
This does not mean that they are a dictatorship.
Examples:
Great Britain
France
Sweden
Image:
Unitary

9. Definition:
Governmental power is divided between a central government and several local governments.
Added Info:
Both levels of government act directly on the people through laws , officials, and agencies.
Examples:
The United States:
The National government (D.C.) has certain powers that the state gov’ts (WI) do not have, vice versa.
Image:
Federal

10. An alliance of independent states Added Info:
Definition:
An alliance of independent states
Added Info:
The national gov’t only has the power that member states have given it.
Examples:
The Articles of Confederation
The Confederate States of America
The European Union
Image:
Confederation

11. Geographic Distribution of Power
Unitary
Federalism
Confederation
State Gov’t
Central Gov’t
Central Gov’t
Central Gov’t
State Gov’t
State Gov’t

12. Definition:
Separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.
Added Info:
The two branches are independent of one another and coequal.
Checks and balances must exist between the two. Why?
Examples:
The United States
Mexico
Most of South America
Image:
President

13. The prime minister and cabinet are members of the legislative branch.
Definition:
The prime minister and cabinet are members of the legislative branch.
Added Info:
The executive is chosen by the legislative and is thus a part of it.
The PM stays in office as long as they maintain the support of the majority in Parliament.
Examples:
Most of the world is parliamentary
Great Britain
Canada
Image:
Parliamentary