Political Science

Introduction to Government

Define government in your own words

List 15 examples of government at work in your area-local, county, state, nation.

List 4 reasons government is such a “turn off” to so many citizens.

Do we really need government?Is government

necessary in EVERY society?Why? Why not?

Characteristics of a State (Nation)Population

People (citizens)Territory

LandGovernment

Rules and laws Sovereignty

Right and ability to rule itself

Types of Gov’tConfederation

Each state retains its own sovereignty and gives only limited powers to the central gov’t

Types of Gov’tFederalism

Political authority is divided between a national (federal) gov’t and its political subdivisions (states)

But who is in charge?Autocracy

Single individual holds political power and authority

Ex. Monarchy or dictatorship

But who is in charge?Oligarchy

Small, self-appointed elite group that rules the state

Not very common

But who is in charge?Totalitarian rule

Gov’t that tries to control the state (nation), the people, and society TOTALLY

Often a combo with autocracy Totalitarian Dictators (Hitler)

DemocracyAll power belongs to the people, which rule the

state (nation)

But do they really? How?

Basic Concepts of DemocracyA recognition of the fundamental worth

and dignity of every personA respect for the equality of all personsA faith in majority rule and insistence

upon minority rightsAn acceptance of the necessity of

compromiseAn insistence upon the widest possible

degree of freedom

Individual WorthThe individual is a distinct being and has a

great importance in democracy

The welfare of individuals comes behind the welfare of the society as a whole

Equality of all persons“All men are created equal”

Everyone is guaranteed: 1. equality of opportunity 2. equality before the law

No one can be held back for any arbitrary (random) reason like race, color, religion, or gender

Majority Rule with Minority RightsMajority rules

Minority rights are still respectedCannot be taken away by majority partyFreedom of speech, press, and assembly (civil

rights) still available

Necessity of CompromiseCompromise-blending and adjusting

competing views and interests

Essential to democracy

Individual FreedomNot complete freedom (chaos), but

individuals “must be as free to do as he or she pleases as far as the freedom of all will allow.”

“The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Forms of DemocracyDirect Democracy

“Pure Democracy”

Everyone has a chance to participate in gov’t on a first-hand basis

Useful in small communities only

Wait a minute…Can’t every voter

vote on laws and policies?

Forms of DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

“Indirect Democracy”

People elect others to represent them to make laws and establish policies

United States

Free Enterprise SystemBased on four concepts:

1. Private ownership2. Individual initiative3. Profit4. Competition

Supply and DemandWhen supplies of goods are high and services

are plentiful, prices tend to dropA lot of something = lower prices

When supplies are more scarce, prices tend to riseLittle quantities of something = higher prices

Mixed EconomyPrivate enterprise exists in combination with

a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion