1. Historic foundations of Democratic concepts of government
CIV 1.1
Historic foundations of
Democratic concepts of government

2. GOVERNMENT Definition: This definition leads to two basic questions:
The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society.
This definition leads to two basic questions:
How should we govern?
What should government do?

3. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT
Helping people cooperate
Safety, Protection
Providing Services
Transportation, Education, Municipal Utilities
Providing Rules
Laws, Organization, Constitution
Putting Ideals into Practice
Protecting basic liberties, assuring people the chance to live peaceable and productive lives

4. FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS
European Enlightenment Thinkers (Philosophers)
Rousseau, Locke, Hobbes, etc.
Higher Law
Rule of Law
State of Nature
Social Contract (Compact)
Natural Rights
Documents:
Magna Carta (1215 A.D.)
English Bill of Rights (1689)
John Locke’s Two Treatises on Government

5. HIGHER LAW
A law that has to be obeyed by those in authority in the government.
1. lists the basic rights of citizens
2. establishes the responsibility of the government to protect these basic rights
3. it places limits on how people in the government can use powers in three important areas:
-citizens rights
-how conflicts are resolved
-how resources are distributed
4. establishes the principle of private domain
5. can only be changed with the consent of the citizens.

6. RULE OF LAW
The rule of law is a fundamental component of democratic society
all members of society -- both citizens and rulers -- are bound by a set of clearly defined and universally accepted laws.

7. RULE OF LAW
Essential to the safekeeping of social order and civil liberties
relationships with people and the state governed by a set of rules
not governed by groups of individuals
less likely to fall victim to authoritarian rule
calls for individuals and government to submit to the law's supremacy

8. STATE OF NATURE
The "natural condition of mankind" is what would exist if there were:
no government
no civilization
no laws
no common power to restrain human nature.
"war of all against all," --- human beings constantly seek to destroy each other in an incessant pursuit for power.
Life in the state of nature is "nasty, brutish and short."

9. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: 1762
“agreement among members of an organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each”
Promoted by John Locke
SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

10. SOVEREIGNTY - Popular Sovereignty
“the exclusive right to complete control over an area of governance, people, or oneself.”
Popular Sovereignty = “the belief that the state is created by and therefore subject to the will of its people, who are the source of all political power”

11. NATURAL RIGHTS Inborn OR innate rights of humanity such as:
Life
Liberty
Equality
Property
Pursuit of happiness
cannot be denied by society

12. ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT

13. LIMITED GOVERNMENT
System in which government powers are carefully spelled out to prevent government from becoming too powerful.

14. MAGNA CARTA
1215
English Nobles (Leaders) forced King John to sign the “Great Charter”
Limited the King’s power
Protected certain rights of noblemen

15. ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS
1689
During the Glorious Revolution (Bloodless), English monarchs William of Orange and Mary signed
Spelled out specific rights of Englishmen

16. Enlightenment Ideas on Government

17. TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT
John Locke
Spelled out Government philosophy
Natural Rights
Social Contract theory

18. NATURAL RIGHTS ACCORDING TO LOCKE

19. Ideas on Self-Government

20. THE Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
Listed reasons for colonies separation from Great Britain
Condenses Enlightenment thinking into one document
Outlines the philosophy of the United States government
Based on ‘consent of the governed’
If will of the people ignored, we have a right to change the government
Purpose of government is to PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS