Principles of Government

Government and the StateStandard USG – 1: The student will

demonstrate an understanding of foundational political theory, concepts, and application.

What is Government?Government – the institution through which

a society makes and enforces its public policies

Public Policy – all the things a government decides to do

Governments must have power to make and carry out public policy

Power – the ability command or prevent action, the ability to achieve a desired end

3 Basic Kinds of PowerLegislative power – the power to make law

and frame public policiesExecutive power – the power to execute,

enforce, and administer lawJudicial power – the power to interpret laws,

determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise

Powers of government often outlined in a country’s constitution

Types of GovernmentDictatorship DemocracyPower held by a single

person or small groupThose who rule cannot

be held responsible to the will of the people

Examples: North Korea – Kim Jong-unSyria – President Bashar

al-Assad

Supreme authority rests with the people

Government is held responsible to the will of the people

Examples: United States – President Barack ObamaGermany – Chancellor

Angela Merkal

Origins of GovernmentAmong oldest of all

human inventionsOrigins lost to timeHumans could not

survive without some kind of way to regulate human’s behavior

Earliest evidence dates back to ancient Egypt

The StateState – dominant political unit in the worldDefined as a body of people, living in a

defined territory, organized politically (government), and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority

Currently, 196 States make up the worldVary greatly in size, military power, natural

resources, and economic importance

4 Characteristics of a State - PopulationState must have population

Size of population does not affect if it is a state or not

State Population Size

Percent of World’s Population

China 1.385 Billion

19%

India 1.252 Billion

17.4%

United States

320 Million 4.43%

Vatican City

<1000 .01%

4 Characteristics of a State - TerritoryState must have land, defined territory

with known and recognized bordersSize does not affect if a state exists or not

State Size of State

Russia 6.592 million sq. miles

Canada 3.851 million sq. miles

United States 3.717 million sq. miles

Vatican City .44 sq. miles

4 Characteristics of a State – SovereigntyEach state is the supreme and

absolute authority of the landNeither subordinate or responsible to

any other authorityCan decide its own foreign and

domestic policiesOne characteristic that distinguishes

the state from all other, lesser political units

4 Characteristics of a State - GovernmentEvery state is politically organized,

has a governmentGovernment includes the machinery

and the personnel by which the state is ruled

Government is necessary to avoid “the war of every man against every man.” – Thomas Hobbes

Major Political Ideas4 most widely accepted theories on the origin of the state:The Force Theory – one person or small group of people

claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to that person’s or group’s will

The Evolutionary Theory – state developed naturally out of the family unit

The Divine Right Theory – God created the state and that God had given those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule

The Social Contract Theory – by agreeing with one another, people in a given area give up to the state as much power as needed to promote the safety and well-being of all

The Purpose of GovernmentThe Preamble to the Constitution:“We the people of the United States, in order to form

a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The 6 purposes of the United States government: Form a more perfect union; establish justice; insure

domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare; and secure the blessings of liberty

QuestionsWhat is government?What are public policies?Every government must have 3 basic kinds of

power, what are they?Body of fundamental laws setting out the

principles, structures, and processes of government is known as what?

The state must have what 4 characteristics to be considered a state.

Questions continuedWhat are the 4 major political theories on the

origin of the state?Which political theory is most significant to

American political thought?What are the 6 purposes of government as

stated in the Preamble to the Constitution?