The End of Law is to Preserve

FreedomCitizenship: Introduction to Politics

About the Unit

•In the Introduction to Politics Unit we will be exploring the following questions:

•Why do we have a government?

•What are conservative politics?

•What are liberal politics?

Conservativism, Libertarianism, and “The

Right” • Conservativism, Libertarianism, and “Right-Wing”

politics refers to a political philosophy that supports traditional institutions as opposed to change, maximizing freedom, and minimizing government involvement in society and the economy

• Conservativism - Political ideas based on a continuation of or return to traditional values and institutions as opposed to changing them.

• Libertarianism - Political ideas based on the concept of maximizing political and economic freedom while minimizing government authority.

• Right on the Political Spectrum - Political positions that view some values or institutions as natural, traditional, inevitable, and un-changeable.

Logo of the Republican Party

The Republican Party supports conservative

political values, some libertarian,

and “Right-Wing” values.

Logo of the Libertarian Party

The Libertarian

Party supports

some conservative, libertarian, and “Right-

Wing” values.

Tea Party Movement

The Tea Party movement is a

political movement based

on some conservative,

libertarian, and “Right-Wing”

values.

The End of Law is Preserve Freedom• Philosopher John Locke believed that humans have a

natural right to be free that should not be denied by any authority including a government

• Humans are rational, independent agents with natural rights

• They join political society to have those rights protected by laws

• If there is an end of law it should be to preserve and enlarge freedom

Every human has natural rights based on freedom

Humans live under the rule of law to protect

those rights

If the rule of law doesn’t

protect those rights, then law should

end to preserve freedom

The Purpose of Government

• Locke developed his theories on limiting government in order to protect people’s rights and maximize freedom through his unhappiness with the unlimited power of the King of England

• Locke believed that governments must craft good laws...that protect the rights of and maximize freedom for people...and enforce them with that in mind.

• Locke also believed that if governments did not protect those rights and maximize people’s freedom that the people then had the right to revolt and overthrow the government to protect their rights and ensure freedom

• The 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution (Right to Bear Arms) was created for this exact reason. United States Citizens have the right to keep and bear arms so they can protect themselves and overthrow the government if it fails to protect their rights and ensure their freedom.

Summary

• Conservativism, Libertarianism, and “Right-Wing” politics refers to a political philosophy that supports traditional institutions as opposed to change, maximizing freedom, and minimizing government involvement in society and the economy

• Philosopher John Locke believed that humans have a natural right to be free that should not be denied by any authority including a government

• Locke developed his theories on limiting government in order to protect people’s rights and maximize freedom through his unhappiness with the unlimited power of the King of England