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Government and the StateGovernment and the State How is government defined?How is government defined? What are the basic powers that every government What are the basic powers that every government

holds?holds? What are the four defining characteristics of the state?What are the four defining characteristics of the state? How have we attempted to explain the origin of the How have we attempted to explain the origin of the

state?state? What is the purpose of government in the United What is the purpose of government in the United

States and other countries?States and other countries?

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What Is Government?What Is Government?

Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

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The StateThe State

populationpopulation A state must have people, the number of which A state must have people, the number of which

does not directly relate to its existence.does not directly relate to its existence.TerritoryTerritory A state must be comprised of landA state must be comprised of land——territory with territory with

known and recognized boundaries.known and recognized boundaries.SovereigntySovereignty Every state is Every state is sovereignsovereign. . It has supreme and It has supreme and

absolute power within its own territory and decides absolute power within its own territory and decides its own foreign and domestic policies.its own foreign and domestic policies.

GovernmentGovernment Every state has a government Every state has a government —— that is, it is that is, it is

politically organized.politically organized.

The state can be defined as having these four characteristics:

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Origins of the StateOrigins of the StateThe Force TheoryThe Force Theory The force theory states that one person or a small group took The force theory states that one person or a small group took

control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or group’s rule.person’s or group’s rule.

The Evolutionary TheoryThe Evolutionary Theory The evolutionary theory argues that the state evolved The evolutionary theory argues that the state evolved

naturally out of the early family.naturally out of the early family.

The Divine Right TheoryThe Divine Right Theory The theory of divine right holds that God created the state The theory of divine right holds that God created the state

and that God gives those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule.and that God gives those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule.

The Social Contract TheoryThe Social Contract Theory The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a

voluntary act of free people.voluntary act of free people.

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The Purpose of GovernmentThe Purpose of GovernmentThe main purposes of government are The main purposes of government are described in the Preamble of the Constitution described in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States:of the United States:

““We the People of the United States, in Order We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish to form a more perfect Union, establish

Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to

ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United establish this Constitution for the United

States of America.”States of America.”

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AssessmentAssessment1. 1. A government isA government is

(a) the institution through which a society makes and enforces its (a) the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.public policies.

(b) a collection of people.(b) a collection of people.

(c) always democratic.(c) always democratic.

(d) the organization representing farms and industries.(d) the organization representing farms and industries.

2. A state has the following four characteristics: 2. A state has the following four characteristics:

(a) population, territory, sovereignty, and government. (a) population, territory, sovereignty, and government.

(b) sovereignty, a perfect union, welfare, and territory.(b) sovereignty, a perfect union, welfare, and territory.

(c) people, places, force, and divine right.(c) people, places, force, and divine right.

(d) justice, defense, liberty, and domestic tranquility.(d) justice, defense, liberty, and domestic tranquility.

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AssessmentAssessment

1. A government is1. A government is

(a) the institution through which a society makes and enforces (a) the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.its public policies.

(b) a collection of people.(b) a collection of people.

(c) always democratic.(c) always democratic.

(d) the organization representing farms and industries.(d) the organization representing farms and industries.

2. A state has the following four characteristics: 2. A state has the following four characteristics:

(a) population, territory, sovereignty, and government. (a) population, territory, sovereignty, and government.

(b) sovereignty, a perfect union, welfare, and territory.(b) sovereignty, a perfect union, welfare, and territory.

(c) people, places, force, and divine right.(c) people, places, force, and divine right.

(d) justice, defense, liberty, and domestic tranquility.(d) justice, defense, liberty, and domestic tranquility.

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Forms of GovernmentForms of Government

How can we classify governments? How can we classify governments? How are systems of government defined in terms of who How are systems of government defined in terms of who

can participate?can participate? How is power distributed within a state?How is power distributed within a state? How are governments defined by the relationship How are governments defined by the relationship

between the legislative and executive branches?between the legislative and executive branches?

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Classifying GovernmentsClassifying Governments

1) Who can participate in the 1) Who can participate in the governing process.governing process.

(2) The geographic distribution of the (2) The geographic distribution of the governmental power within the governmental power within the state.state.

(3) The relationship between the (3) The relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and the legislative (lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches executive (law-executing) branches of the government.of the government.

Governments can be classified by three different standards:

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Classification by Who Can Classification by Who Can ParticipateParticipate

Democracy Democracy In a democracy, supreme In a democracy, supreme

political authority rests political authority rests with the people. with the people.

A direct democracy exists A direct democracy exists where the will of the where the will of the people is translated into people is translated into law directly by the people law directly by the people themselves.themselves.

In an indirect democracy, a In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, small group of persons, chosen by the people to chosen by the people to act as their act as their representatives, expresses representatives, expresses the popular willthe popular will..

DictatorshipDictatorship A dictatorship exists where A dictatorship exists where

those who rule cannot be those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will held responsible to the will of the people.of the people.

An An autocracyautocracy is a is a government in which a government in which a single person holds single person holds unlimited political power.unlimited political power.

An An oligarchyoligarchy is a is a government in which the government in which the power to rule is held by a power to rule is held by a small, usually self-small, usually self-appointed elite.appointed elite.

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Classification by Geographic Classification by Geographic Distribution of PowerDistribution of Power

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government A A unitary government unitary government has all powers held by a single, has all powers held by a single,

central agency.central agency.

Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government A A confederationconfederation is an alliance of independent states. is an alliance of independent states.

Federal GovernmentFederal Government A A federal government federal government is one in which the powers of is one in which the powers of

government are divided between a central government and government are divided between a central government and several local governments.several local governments.

An authority superior to both the central and local An authority superior to both the central and local governments makes this governments makes this division of power division of power on a geographic on a geographic basis.basis.

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Classification by the Relationship Classification by the Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Between Legislative and Executive

BranchesBranchesPresidential and Parliamentary Governments

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Forms of GovernmentForms of Government

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AssessmentAssessment1. In a democracy, 1. In a democracy,

(a) independent states form an alliance.(a) independent states form an alliance.(b) supreme political authority rests with the people. (b) supreme political authority rests with the people. (c) those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of (c) those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of

the people.the people.(d) the rule by a few, select individuals regulates the will of (d) the rule by a few, select individuals regulates the will of

the people.the people.

2. The United States government has the following 2. The United States government has the following characteristics: characteristics: (a) confederate, parliamentary, and dictatorship.(a) confederate, parliamentary, and dictatorship.(b) unitary, presidential, and democracy.(b) unitary, presidential, and democracy.(c) federal, presidential, and democracy.(c) federal, presidential, and democracy.(d) unitary, parliamentary, and dictatorship.(d) unitary, parliamentary, and dictatorship.

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AssessmentAssessment1. In a democracy, 1. In a democracy,

(a) independent states form an alliance.(a) independent states form an alliance.(b) supreme political authority rests with the people. (b) supreme political authority rests with the people. (c) those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of (c) those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of

the people.the people.(d) the rule by a few, select individuals regulates the will of (d) the rule by a few, select individuals regulates the will of

the people.the people.

2. The United States government has the following 2. The United States government has the following characteristics: characteristics: (a) confederate, parliamentary, and dictatorship.(a) confederate, parliamentary, and dictatorship.(b) unitary, presidential, and democracy.(b) unitary, presidential, and democracy.(c) federal, presidential, and democracy.(c) federal, presidential, and democracy.(d) unitary, parliamentary, and dictatorship.(d) unitary, parliamentary, and dictatorship.

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Basic Concepts of DemocracyBasic Concepts of Democracy

What are the foundations of What are the foundations of democracy?democracy?

What are the connections between What are the connections between democracy and the free enterprise democracy and the free enterprise system?system?

How has the Internet affected How has the Internet affected democracy?democracy?

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FoundationsFoundations

(1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and (1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person;dignity of every person;

(2) A respect for the equality of all persons;(2) A respect for the equality of all persons;

(3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence (3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights;upon minority rights;

(4) An acceptance of the necessity of (4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; andcompromise; and

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

(6) A belief in Advanced Citizenship.(6) A belief in Advanced Citizenship.

The American concept of democracy rests on these basic beliefs:

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Democracy and the Free Democracy and the Free Enterprise SystemEnterprise System

The The free enterprise system free enterprise system is an economic system is an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state.by private decision rather than by state.

Decisions in a free enterprise system are Decisions in a free enterprise system are determined by the determined by the law of supply and demand law of supply and demand (GREED).(GREED).

An economy in which private enterprise exists in An economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion is called a government regulation and promotion is called a mixed economymixed economy..

GOVERNMENTS exist independent of the GOVERNMENTS exist independent of the economic system they use.economic system they use.

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Democracy and the InternetDemocracy and the Internet Democracy demands that the people be Democracy demands that the people be

widely informed about their government.widely informed about their government. Theoretically, the Internet makes Theoretically, the Internet makes

knowledgeable participation in democratic knowledgeable participation in democratic process easier than ever before.process easier than ever before.

However, all data on the World Wide Web However, all data on the World Wide Web is not necessarily true, and the long-term is not necessarily true, and the long-term effects of the Internet on democracy has effects of the Internet on democracy has yet to be determined.yet to be determined.

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AssessmentAssessment1. All of the following are basic notions found in the American concept of 1. All of the following are basic notions found in the American concept of

democracy EXCEPT democracy EXCEPT (a) a recognition of of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person.(a) a recognition of of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person.(b) a respect for the equality of all persons.(b) a respect for the equality of all persons.(c) the rule of government by a single individual.(c) the rule of government by a single individual.(d) an acceptance of the necessity of compromise.(d) an acceptance of the necessity of compromise.

2. In a free enterprise system, the means of capital are owned2. In a free enterprise system, the means of capital are owned(a) by private and corporate entities.(a) by private and corporate entities.(b) by government agencies.(b) by government agencies.(c) by only the agricultural sector.(c) by only the agricultural sector.(d) equally by the collective citizenry.(d) equally by the collective citizenry.

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AssessmentAssessment1. All of the following are basic notions found in the American concept of 1. All of the following are basic notions found in the American concept of

democracy EXCEPT democracy EXCEPT (a) a recognition of of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person.(a) a recognition of of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person.(b) a respect for the equality of all persons.(b) a respect for the equality of all persons.(c) the rule of government by a single individual.(c) the rule of government by a single individual.(d) an acceptance of the necessity of compromise.(d) an acceptance of the necessity of compromise.

2. In a free enterprise system, the means of capital are owned2. In a free enterprise system, the means of capital are owned(a) by private and corporate entities.(a) by private and corporate entities.(b) by government agencies.(b) by government agencies.(c) by only the agricultural sector.(c) by only the agricultural sector.(d) equally by the collective citizenry.(d) equally by the collective citizenry.