ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

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ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

• CHAPTER ONE

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Government and the Public Good

• What is Government? An institution with the power
  to make and enforce rules for a group of people.
• It establishes the rules and regulations of
  everyday life.
• Government has the authority to set rules for all
  the people living in a political unit, or state.
• The absolute authority that a government has over
  it citizens, or members of a state, is called
  sovereignty.

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Government and the Public Good

• The United States, France, Egypt, Japan, Russia,
  Mexico, China, Indonesia, and Nigeria are
  examples of the nearly 200 sovereign states in
  the world.
• Government establish rules for their societies by
  making laws.

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Government and the Public Good

• Most societies have many laws. These are part of
  public policies, or the plans and decisions that
  a government makes in a particular area of public
  concern.
• A government makes public policies on a broad
  range of issues- i.e. traffic safety sped
  limits, seat belts, drivers license.

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Origins of Government

• The rightful authority any government has over
  its citizens is known as legitimacy.
• In the 1600s, Thomas Hobbes argued that people
  create the state by entering into a social
  contract.- Under this contract people give up
  their individual sovereignty to the state, in
  exchange, the state provides peace and order.

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Origins of Government

• English philosopher John Locke, developed an idea
  known as natural rights.
• Locke believed it was the governments proper job
  to secure peoples natural rights, simply because
  we are human beings.
• Natural Rights- Life, Liberty, the right to
  property (the pursuit of happiness)

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Functions of Government

• A government should secure citizens natural
  rights and fulfill its part of the social
  contract by performing a variety of functions.
• Maintaining Order- Government maintains order in
  society by enforcing laws that protect the safety
  and security of people and property.
• Protect people from unfair or harmful business
  practices
• Police officers help protect society from harm
• No discrimination because of race, ethnic origin,
  gender or religion
• Protecting the country from foreign invasion

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Functions of Government

• Providing Services
• Government provides many needed services that
  people cannot easily provide on their own.
• It builds roads
• Inspects food and drugs
• Delivers mail
• Provides assistance to the needy
• Builds schools

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Functions of Government

• Resolving Conflict
• Government helps resolve conflict by bringing
  people together to reach common goals through
  compromise.
• Government brings about compromise through
  politics. The process by which people express
  opinions about what the government should do.
• The court system-part of government- has the
  authority to enforce the decisions reached in a
  compromise.

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Functions of Government

• Promoting Values- Values are basic principles by
  which people act and live their lives. These
  values include safety and the willingness to
  compromise.
• Society in the U.S. also values
• Equality of opportunity
• Respect for individuals rights
• A good education
• Health care for the elderly and the needy
• Personal responsibility

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The Public Good

• The previous functions of government all share a
  fundamental purpose- to serve the public good.
• Good governments try to pursue policies that
  serve the public interest.

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What kind of Country is the United States?

• A Republic If you can keep it!- Benjamin
  Franklin
• For much of US history, there has been a debate
  as to whether the US is a Republic or a
  Democracy. There are many differences listed in
  the next few slides.

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Republic or Democracy

• Republic- A system where people elect
  representatives who are free to act on their own,
  based on their personal beliefs, conscience or
  other factors to do what they feel is right.
• Democracy- a system where the representative is
  expected to obey the mandate of those who elected
  him/her, be it his/her district, state, nation,
  regardless of his/her own personal beliefs.

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The Difference

• There is a radical difference between the world
  of the founding fathers and the modern world.
• Their idea of a republic was based on a centuries
  old idea that the people elect the most educated
  and wisest among them.
• As people became better educated and
  communication allowed more immediate access to
  information, their influence became stronger.

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The Difference

• Although the framers of the constitution believed
  in a republic, it has developed into more of a
  democracy, as politicians cite the desires of
  their constituents as the reason for positions.
• In modern times, many congressmen/women have
  taken positions contrary to their constituents in
  areas about which they have felt strongly.
  Subjects such as impeachment, gun control,
  abortion, etc

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Forms of Government

• Sources of Authority-
• Monarchy
• Republic
• Dictatorship
• Monarchy- Head of state is a hereditary position.
• Constitutional Monarchy- King or Queen is only
  the ceremonial head of state. Real power lies in
  another branch of government.

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Forms of Government

• Republic (Democratic)
• People are the source of authority.
• Government is made up of representatives elected
  by people.
• Dictatorship
• Political and/or military power, wealth and/or
  social position are the source of leaders
  authority.
• Power is achieved and maintained through force.

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Forms of Government

• One of the differences between types of
  government systems is the source of authority.
  What is the source in the United States
  Government?
• THE PEOPLE

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How is Power Distributed

• Power among levels of government may be
  classified according to three types of systems.
• Unitary System
• Central Government holds all legal power.
• Local government has no independent power
  carries out decisions made by the central
  government.

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How is Power Distributed

• Federal System-
• National, State, and Local Governments share
  power.
• All levels have the power to establish their own
  laws, elect officials, and create agencies.

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How is Power Distributed

• Confederal System-
• Independent states join together.
• Each state is represented in a central
  organization. Central organization carries out
  policies made by representatives.
• How is power distributed in the United States
  government?

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THE END?

• Keep your guided notes in your notebook to help
  you study! We will have a test on Friday Sept.
  26th? over Chapter 1!
• Start studying and get ready!