1. Principles of Government

2. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT? The institution and processes through which public policies are made for a society Government makes and enforces public policies It consists of lawmakers (legislative power), administrators (executive power) and judges (judicial power) These powers are often outlined in a country’s constitution

3. THE STATE (NATION) The most dominant political unit in the world today It is a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically Population – a nation consists of people Territory – a nation must have land Sovereignty – sovereign nations determine their own form government, have supreme authority within their own territory and decide their own foreign and domestic policies Government – government consists of the machinery and personnel by which a state is ruled

4. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY Theory underlying modern democracies Ideas of philosophers John Locke, James Harrington, Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau who believed a state (nation) exists to serve the will of the people Under this theory, the state (nation) is created voluntarily by a free people, governmental powers are granted by the people, and may be limited by the people Challenged the idea that royal birth had absolute authority to rule

5. THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT According the US Constitution----- To form a More Perfect Union – In union there is strength To establish Justice – the law should be administered reasonably, fairly, and impartially To Insure Domestic Tranquility – without order, people would live in anarchy

6. THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT CONT’D Provide for the Common Defense – The state’s security rests on wise defense and foreign policies To Promote the General Welfare – The state has a responsibility to provide a variety of public services To Secure the Blessings of Liberty – Freedom is necessary for a democracy.

7. CLASSIFYING GOVERNMENTS – WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Dictatorship – participation in government is limited to the individual or group who rules Democracy – the people hold the power and give consent to the government to rule. The United States is a democracy, meaning that supreme authority Rests in the people

8. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENTAL POWER Unitary Government – all powers in a state are concentrated at a central level Federal Government – powers are divided between a central government and several local governments Confederate Government – the central government has limited power with the most important authority reserved for member states

9. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGISLATURE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES Presidential Government – executive and legislative branches are independent and coequal Parliamentary Government – the executive is chosen by the legislature, the prime minister and cabinet are part of the legislative branch, and the prime minister and cabinet must resign if they lose the support of a majority or the legislature

10. BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY Democracy is built on five basic principles * respect for the individual * equality of all persons * acceptance of majority rule and minority rights * compromise * protection of individual freedoms The free enterprise system of the US, like democracy, relies on individual freedoms In a mixed economy, the government plays a role in the economy The internet has opened up new opportunities for democracy, but users Must carefully evaluate information they find