What is Government?

Government is how society chooses people to make and enforce its public

policies.

So what are public policies?

Public policies are anything that agovernment does…like taxes, education,

national defense, health care, etc.

Government usually comes from a state (think United States, not South Carolina)…and a state has four

characteristics:

Population, or people who live in an area

Territory, or land thathas known and

recognized boundaries

Sovereignty, or supremeand absolute power

in its territory

Government

So why do we have government?

The truth is there are numerous reasons, butthe United States Constitution gives us

six pretty good reasons…

To form a more

perfect union

To establish

justice

To insure domestic tranquility

…or keeping peace at

home

To provide for the

common defense…

or defending the nation

from foreign

enemies

To promote the general welfare…or protecting

the citizens

To secure the

blessings of liberty…or protect freedom for the people

But how far should a government go for these things? What prices will people pay? What other

things get in the way?

May be divided on howpower is sharedgeographically:

Unitary Gov’t – all power is held in one central agency

Federal Gov’t – powers divided between a central government and several local governments

Confederate Gov’t – independent states each operate and work together only on issues that they decide

May be divided on therelationship b/w

Executive & LegislativeBranches

Dictatorship – government does not answer to the people

Democracy – the power of government rests with the people

May be divided on whogets to participate in

the government

Presidential Gov’t – a separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches

Parliamentary Gov’t – the executive branch is actually chosen from the legislative branch

Democratic Society

Political Efficacy – the people’s faith

in government and belief that they can

cause change

Civic Life – the act of people being

active in government; reliant upon

people’s political efficacy

How can political efficacy and the civil life of citizens in a democratic society have a great effect upon both the

government and politics of that society?

Where do these ideas come from?

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

The Enlightenment

Oldest recorded government. Absolute divine right monarchy under the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh employed a large bureaucracy to manage

the government, economy, and laws.

Athens provided first method of direct democracy. All male citizens would vote on laws and regulations for the city-state. Philosophers

like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle created theories of government to explain why we have them and what types are best.

The Roman Republic provided an example of Constitutional and Representative government. A system of law was established and

officials were elected by citizens to lead the Republic and create its laws.

Philosophers like John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, and William Blackstone develop theories about the rights that people naturally

possess. Divine right is rejected as a basis for government. The belief that laws can protect natural rights is established. The presumption of

innocence is accepted into Common Law.

British Influences on US Government

Magna Carta

• Signed by King John in 1215 to end the Baron’s Revolt• Gave English nobility right to question royal power and established a

“constitution” in England

Petition of Right

• English constitutional document created in 1628 limiting the king’s power over taxation without Parliament’s permission, forcing people to house soldiers (billeting), imprisonment without cause, and martial law

Glorious Revolution

• 1688 overthrow of the Stuart Dynasty who believed in Absolute Monarchy • Stuarts replaced with William and Mary of Orange who agreed to rule under a

constitutional monarchy limited by laws passed by Parliament

English Bill of Rights

• Act of Parliament passed in 1689 limiting English royal power• Provides the framework for our own Bill of Rights

Mayflower Compact

• First form of written government established by the English in the New World• Established government in Plymouth Colony in 1620 through a social contract as

the settlers consented to sign and agree to the laws stated in the Compact

The English Bill of RightsLimits on

Royal Power

• Monarch cannot establish courts alone or act as judge

• Monarch cannot raise taxes on his own

Powers given to

Parliament

• Freedom of speech in the Houses of Parliament

• Right to consent to establishment of new taxes and the creation of a Standing Army

Rights of the People

• Right to have arms for their own defense

• Right to petition the monarch without fear of retribution

• Protection against punishment without conviction and cruel and unusual punishments