Unit One: Foundations of government
What is Government?
Government: The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies (all of those things a govt. decides to do, such as taxation, education, defense, etc.)
What are the basic powers of Government?
Legislative power – To make law and frame public policy Executive power – To execute, enforce, and administer the law Judicial power – To interpret laws and settle disputes
Why do we need Government?
What is a state?
State: a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority
Four elements of a state
Population: people, no set amount needed
Territory: land, again, no set amount needed
Sovereignty: supreme and absolute power within its own territory
Government: politically organized
How did the state form?
Force Theory one person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or group’s rule
Evolutionary Theory state developed naturally out of the early family
Divine Right Theory God created the stateand that God had given those of royal birth a “divine right to rule”, and people were bound by duty to obey their ruler as they would God.
Social Contract Theory by contract people within a certain area agreed to give up to the state power to promote the safety and well being of all
What are the different forms of Government?
Monarchy A hereditary sovereign
Dictatorship Those who rule are not responsible to the will of the people
Ruled by religious authority God/Deity is supreme authority Theocracy
Oligarchy power to rule is held by a small usually self- appointed elite
Unitary centralized government all govt. power held by one central agency
Democracy Supreme political authority rests with the people
Which form of government is the best?