PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

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PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

• CHAPTER 1

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Basic Definition of GovernmentSECT. 1GOVERNMENT
AND THE STATE

• What is Government?
• Government is the institution through which a
  society makes and enforces its public policies
• Who is the Government?
• those people who exercise governments powers,
  those who have authority and control over other
  people.
• What are public policies
• those things a government decides to do. Laws
  and regulations and actions.

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Powers of GovernmentSECT. 1GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATE

• Every government has and exercises three types of
  power
• Legislativepower to make law and public policy
• Judicialthe power to interpret laws and to
  settle disputes
• ExecutivePower to enforce and administer the laws

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The StateSECT. 1GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE

• The State is the dominant political unit the
  world.
• Definition
• body of people,
• living in a defined territory,
• organized politically under a government and
• having the power to make and enforce law without
  the consent of any higher authority.
• How is State different from nation and
  country
• State is a legal entity. nation, is a group
  of people and country, is a geographical
  description.

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Four Characteristics Of A State SECT.
1GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE

• Four Characteristics of a State?
• Population Size doesnt matter
• Territory Clear borders
• Sovereignty
• supreme and absolute power within its own
  territory. No higher power to which it has to
  answer or which can exercise authority within its
  borders.
• Government

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Origins of the State SECT. 1GOVERNMENT AND THE
STATE

• Theories of how States first arose
• Force Theory
• Strong dominated the weak
• The Evolutionary Theory

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Origins of the State, cont. SECT. 1GOVERNMENT
AND THE STATE

• Divine Right Theory
• King gets power from God
• Kings laws are like the laws of god and beyond
  question or defiance.
• The theory adhered to by European Monarchs in the
  15th-17th century and most early civilizations

The Rebuttal
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Origins of the State, cont. SECT. 1GOVERNMENT
AND THE STATE

• Social Contract Theory
• Modern Theory Articulated by John Locke
• Theory behind Declaration of Independence
• Basic Premise
• Without government, people are afraid
• People form governments to protect their life,
  liberty and property
• Proper purpose of government is to protect these
  natural rights
• Power of government comes from people
• popular sovereignty
• Governments that abuse rights of people lose
  legitimacy and can be overthrown

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The Purpose of Government SECT. 1GOVERNMENT AND
THE STATE

• To form a more perfect union
• To establish justice
• To insure domestic tranquility
• To provide for the common defense
• To promote general welfare
• To secure the blessings of liberty

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SECT. 2FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• Three major ways by which to classify
  governments
• Geographical distribution of power
• the relationship between the legislative and the
  executive
• The number of persons who can take part
• These arent the only ways, but are useful.
• They are NOT mutually exclusive

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The Number Who Can Participate SECT. 2FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• Democracy Supreme political authority rests
  with the people. The government is conducted
  only by and with the consent of the people.
• Direct Democracy
• Indirect Democracy

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The Number Who Can Participate SECT. 2FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• Dictatorship
• Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the
  will of the people.
• Oldest and most common form of government.
• Autocracy
• Oligarchy.
• Authoritarian
• Most are also Totalitarian
• Often militaristic Why?

Name the dictator
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Geographical ClassificationSECT. 2FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• All Governments are either unitary, Federal or
  Confederate
• Unitary Governments
• Also called a centralized government.
• All power vested in the national government.
• May create local governments, but all powers of
  such governments are given by the central gov.
• Most governments are of this type. Dont confuse
  with dictatorship.

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Geographical ClassificationSECT. 2FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• Federal Government. Basic Definition
• Powers of government are divided between a
  central government and several local governments.
• Some authority superior to both, such as
  constitution, makes the distribution
• the distribution cant be changed without consent
  of both.

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Geographical ClassificationSECT. 2FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT

• Confederate Government
• An alliance of independent states.
• Central organ has limited powers given by the
  alliance states.
• Powers usually limited to foreign policy, trade
  policy and defense.
• Because states are independent, in theory they
  can withdraw.
• Modern-day examples?
• Examples from history?

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Relationship Between Legislative and Executive
Branches SECT. 2FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• Presidential Gov. vs. Parliamentary Gov.
• Presidential Government
• A separation of powers between the executive and
  legislative branches of the government.
• Are independent and coequal.
• President chosen independently of the legislature
  and serves for a fixed term.
• Usually, a constitution specifies the separation
  of powers between the legislative and executive
  branch.

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Relationship Between Legislative and Executive
Branches SECT. 2FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• Parliamentary Government
• The executive is made up of the prime minister
  and his or her cabinet.
• The Prime minister is the leader of the majority
  party in parliament and is chosen by that body.
• Cabinet is selected from among the parliament
  members.
• Government only stays in power so long as it
  retains the confidence of a majority in
  parliament. Prime Minister is removed from
  office in majority in parliament changes.
• Fewer checks and balances. Why?
• By far the most common form of democracy.
• Pros and Cons?

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SECTION 3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• In order for democracy to exist and survive, five
  basic elements must exist in society.

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SECTION 3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• We will have to repent in this generation not
  merely for the hateful words and actions of the
  bad people but for the appalling silence of the
  good people.
• Martin Luther King

• Recognition Of The Fundamental Worth And Dignity
  Of Every Person.
• Recognition by whom? Laws or average citizens?
• Do members of a democratic society have an
  obligation to speak out in the face of injustice.

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SECTION 3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• Equality of All Persons
• For much of our history, hasnt existed.
• African Americans
• Women
• What type of equality is necessary in a
  democracy?
• Equality of opportunity?
• Equality under the law?
• Equality of starting condition?

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SECTION 3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• Majority Rule and Minority Rights
• Majority Rule is heart of popular sovereignty
• Are there times when majority rule is
  inappropriate in a democracy?

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SECTION 3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• Necessity of Compromise
• Is compromise always a good thing?
• To have compromise, (and have democracy) must not
  be fundamental disagreements in society

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SECTION 3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• Individual Freedom
• Which Individual Freedoms are essential to
  democracy?

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Democracy and the Free Enterprise SystemSECTION
3BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

• Economic freedom associated with democracy
• Basic elements of Free Enterprise System
• Private ownership of property
• Private investment
• Competition
• Price based on supply and demand
• Mixed Economy

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