Introduction to….

American Government

What is Government?

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

Made up of those people who exercise its powers, who have authority and control over other people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnHW_t8Qwwc

Why do we even need Gov’t?

Gov’t is established because there needs to be a way to regulate conduct - yours and your neighbors

In other words, gov’t provides….– SAFETY/ Security

4 Purposes of Government 1.) Maintain social order

– How does the Gov’t do this?– Figures out property lines, make and

enforce laws, etc.

2.) Provide public services– Like what?– Building sewer systems, inspect meat and

drugs, etc.

Purposes of Gov’t (cont.)

3.) Provide for national security and a common defense– How does the Gov’t do this?– Foreign policy

4.) Provide for and control the economic system– How so?– Controlling inflation, encouraging trade, and

regulating the development of natural resources.

The state

Notice the capitalization!!!!

The dominant political unit in the world.– U.S. is one of 200 in the world.– Essentially the same meaning as “country”.

Definition:– A political community that occupies a definite

territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority.

Understanding the state

When the United States was the British Colonies… was it a state?

Is Georgia, in this sense, a state?

Why or why not?

Characteristics that constitute a state

1.) Population– Must have people!!!– China has the largest population.

2.) Territory– Land with known and recognized

boundaries.– Russia has 6.6 million square miles.

What else constitutes a state?

3.) Sovereignty (rules oneself)– Has supreme and absolute power within its own

territory.– If the people are sovereign - then the state is

democratic. • if a small group has power - it’s a dictatorship.

– Are the Virgin Islands a state?

4.) Government– Each state is politically organized.– States can make and enforce public policy, they

have the power to rule.

Origins of the state

The Force Theory

The Evolutionary Theory

The Divine Right Theory

The Social Contract Theory

The Force Theory

The state was born of force. A group or person claimed control over

an area and forced all within it to submit to their rule.

When their rule was established all four elements of the state were present.

The Evolutionary Theory

state developed naturally from family groups. family had a head – the government of that

group This is 1st stage in political development

– Later expanded to clans, then to tribes– when tribes quit being nomadic - the state was

born.

Divine Right Theory Widely accepted in western world:

– 1400s-1700s State created by God, God gave those of

royal birth a divine right to rule.– Must obey rulers as they would obey God– Opposition was a sin and treason

Democratic ideas challenge this

Japanese Emperor (Mikado) governed by this until 1945.

Social Contract Theory State arose as voluntary act of free people.

Most significant theory for U.S. State exists to serve the will of the people

– people are sovereign (the sole source of political power)

– free to give or withhold pwr to whomever they choose.

Philosophers (Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau) developed this in 1600 &1700s

Thomas Hobbes Earliest humans lived in state of nature.

– No Gov’t existed - no one subject to any superior power. people took by force what they wanted (constant war)

– all were free people– but no protection

Hobbes: Human life is “nasty, brutish, and short”

Humans overcome this by agreeing to give up power in exchange for security & well being – This is creation of state

government created to exercise powers granted to state

All about individual rights, limited government, popular sovereignty.

Homework: Create a visual representation of one of

the theories of the formation of a state.

Color!!!!!

Be sure to tell me which theory or type of gov’t you are illustrating!

Government Systems – Geographic Distribution of Power

Unitary– Power held in single, central agency

Federal– Powers divided between central gov’t and several

local governments. Confederate

– central gov’t has limited power -most important authority reserved for member states.

Types of Government

Autocracy - One ruler– Monarchy is a form of autocratic government.– Here a King, Queen, or Emperor exercises the

supreme power of the government.– Can be figure heads.

Oligarchy– Any system where a small group has power.– Today most Communist countries, like China, are

ruled in this fashion

Autocratic Type of Gov. - Dictatorship

Ruler(s) not held accountable to the people

Oldest and most common form of Gov’t. Authoritarian & totalitarian. control over all matters Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union,

China. People vote, but vote is controlled. Elected legislative body may exist –

– but not have much control at all Usually militaristic in character.

Types of Gov. con’t Democracy

– Supreme political authority rests with the people.– People have sovereign power, government is

conducted only by and with the consent of the people.

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”– Abraham Lincoln 1863 (G. Address).

Can be direct or indirect .

Forms of Government - Presidential Presidential Government

– Separation of powers• executive & legislative branches - independent

and coequal

– Chief Executive - President • chosen independently of the legislature• In office for a fixed term• broad powers - not subject to direct control of

legislative branch.– Each branch checks the others’ power– Written const requires separation of power

Forms of Gov. - Parliamentary Executive: Prime Minister (or “Premier”)

Prime Minister (PM):– Member of the legislature– leader of majority party

• (or coalition of parties)

– Cabinet - also members of legislative branch (Parliament)• Selected by PM w/ Parliament’s approval

Executive - chosen by legislature & subject to its direct control

Direct “Pure” Democracy

The will of the people is translated into public policy (law) directly by the people, in mass meetings.

Only works in small communities, where citizenry can meet in a central place, and the problems of the Gov’t are few and simple.

Indirect “Representative” Democracy Small group chosen by people to act as their

representatives, express the popular will.– electoral college, congress, state legislatures

They carry out day to day conduct of Gov’t– making and executing of laws

Held accountable by the people – especially at periodic elections

Gov’t by popular consent, Gov’t with the consent of the governed

The people rule!!!

5 Concepts of Democracy 1. Recognition of the fundamental worth

and dignity of every person

2. Respect for the equality of all persons.– Equality of opportunity.– Equality before the law.– Political Equality.– Every person in a democratic society, regardless

of race, color, religion, or gender, is entitled to live freely and equally and to fulfill his or her potential

• “pursuit of happiness”

5 Concepts of Democracy (cont.) 3. Faith in majority rule and

insistence upon minority rights– “The majority must always be willing to

listen to a minority’s argument, to hear its objections, to bear its criticisms, and to welcome its suggestions. Anything less contradicts the very meaning of democracy.”

– Democracy thinks the majority’s opinion will be the better, or more satisfactory, one.

5 Concepts of Democracy (cont.) 4. Acceptance of the necessity of

compromise.– Importance of Compromise.

• The process of blending and adjusting, of reconciling competing views and interests in order to find the position most acceptable to the largest number.

– Need to hear all opinions - usually there are more than just two!

5 Concepts of Democracy (cont.)

5. An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.

– Democracy must respect majority rule without allowing the majority to crush the minority, and it must use compromise to reach the most satisfactory decisions without compromising basic principles.

Homework: Create a visual representation of one of

the 5 concepts of democracy.

Color!!!!!

Be sure to tell me which concept you are illustrating!