Government Unit 1

Basic Terminology Government is institution with the power to make and enforce rules for a group of people State is a political unit Citizens are members of a particular state Sovereignty is the authority that a government has over its citizens

Terms Laws are a set of rules made and enforced by the government that is binding on society Natural law is the system of justice derived from nature rather than from the rules of society (consistent throughout most societies) Public policies are the plans and decisions that a government makes in a particular area of public concern

Can anybody name a State? To be a State, 4 requirements must be met: A State is a body of people (Population), living in a defined territory (Boundaries), organized politically (has Government), and having the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority (Sovereignty).

Origins of Government Originally kings or emperors claimed divine right to rule Right to rule came from god or gods Most rulers in most civilizations claimed this divine right (Pharaohs in Egypt, Emperor in China and Japan, Emperor in Rome etc.)

Enlightenment During the time of the Enlightenment philosophers began to question divine right Science and reason began to be more valued than religion

Thomas Hobbes One such philosopher was Thomas Hobbes He argued that people create a state and government by entering into a social contract Under this “contract” people of the state gave up their individual sovereignty to the state In exchange the state provided peace and order

John Locke Locke developed Hobbes’ social contract further He believed that the government has legitimacy because the people give it power. No one else Locke developed the idea of natural rights These were rights that people had simply because they were human

What does a government do for its citizens? Maintains order and provides security Provides services Resolve conflicts through politics Promotes values

Public Good Public good is the public’s interest or well being of society as a whole What is for the public good?

Types of Government Democracy Monarchy Republic Oligarchy Totalitarianism Fascism Dictatorship Communism

Democracy A form of government in which the citizens share the power. They elect their leaders. Direct democracy occurs when all people vote on all issues.

Democracy cont. We learned democracy from the ancient Greek Demokratia Demos People Kratos Power

The Basic Foundations of Democracy Recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person. Respect for the equality of all persons. Faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights. Acceptance of the necessity of compromise. Insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.

Benefits of Democracy Opportunity to make choices Recognize the dignity and worth of each person Promotes respect for the law Protect the rights of the minority Produces policies that promote the public good

Monarchy Absolute Monarchy occurs when the king or queen has all the power of government They make all the laws and decisions and laws for the country

Monarchy cont. Constitutional Monarchy is when a constitution sets out the rules for how the country is run The monarch is normally head of state with only ceremonial power. Monarchy is typically inherited by royal birth

Republic Indirect/Representative Democracy The head of government is an elected or chosen president. Officials are elected to represent the publics best voting interests

Republic cont. May or may not be democratic If officials are elected by public vote = democratic If elections are corrupt = not

Oligarchy Rule by a few elite Either royalty or wealthy upper class

Totalitarianism Government holds absolute control over all aspects of people’s lives and laws are imposed with unpleasant consequences Authoritarian dictators answer only to themselves not the people

Fascism Usually headed by a dictator Government has total control Usually includes elements of extreme patriotism, warlike policies, and discrimination against minorities

Dictatorship Supreme power is in the hands of one person Dictatorship is less controlling then a totalitarian government Does not have as rigid of a belief system, it might have elections but only has one party Dictator makes most government policies and decisions

Communism Economic system not a government system All property and means of production are controlled by the government

Power Among Levels of Government Unitary System Federal System Confederal System

Unitary Systems All legal power is held by the national/central government Local provinces or cities are local representatives of the national government Japan, UK, Israel

Federal Systems Powers are divided among national state and local governments Some powers only belong to certain areas of the government (National, State, Local) Other powers are shared by all three USA, Australia, India

Confederal Systems A group of independent states join together to accomplish common goals There may not be a central government, but if there is one it only carries out agreed upon policies Canada, EU

Presidential v Parliamentary In a presidential system the head of the executive branch is selected independently from the legislature In a parliamentary system the head of the executive branch is selected from the legislature by the legislature