American Government 8/29

Intro to 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.

What is Government?

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

Power

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.

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Constitution

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.

Classifying Governments*

Definition:

Supreme authority rests with the people

Added Info:

Can be either:

1) Direct- people vote directly on all policy

2) Indirect-people elect representatives to vote in their best interest

Examples:

Recall elections

Voting

Demonstrations

Consent of the people

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Democracy

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

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Dictatorship

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

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Unitary

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.

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Federal

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

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Confederation

Geographic Distribution of PowerUnitary

Federalism Confederation

Central Gov’t

State Gov’t

Central Gov’t

State Gov’t

Central Gov’t

State Gov’t

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

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President

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

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Parliamentary