* Where does authority come from? * Why do States develop?

* Maintain Social Order * Provide Public Services * Provide National Security * Make Economic Decisions

1. English Bill of Rights - Set limits on what a ruler could/ could not do 2. Mayflower Compact - Declared that they would all work together. Would choose their own leaders & make their own rules. 3. Colonial Legislatures - Self rule & Separation of Powers 4. Declaration on Independence - Justified the reason for Revolution

* Constitution Servers Several Purposes 1. Set out ideals that the people believe and share 2. Establishes basic structure of gov’t 3. Defines gov’t powers & Duties 4. Provides the supreme law for the country * The Constitution Is An Incomplete Guide

* Social Contract Theory * What is it? * Responsibility of the majority to protect the rights of the minority * Thomas Hobbes

* Life * Liberty * Property * Life * Liberty * Pursuit of Happiness

* Developed by Thomas Hobbes in Leviathon * Expanded upon by * John Locke in Second Treatise on Government * Jean Jacques Rousseau Social Contract In order for man to live in groups, he must give up some of his freedom to the government in exchange for protection of his natural rights.

* The authority of government is derived from the consent of the governed. * The citizens could challenge a government that does not preserve their natural rights. * Examples * Glorious Revolution in England * American Revolution * Limited Government * Government can only do what the citizens allow it to do

* Charles de Montesquieu * Separation of Powers * What is it? * Governmental power is divided among different branches * Checks and Balances * What is it? * Each branch of government watches the others

* Trying to create a stronger nat’l gov’t while limiting it at the same time * “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many…may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” * James Madison, The Federalist No. 47

* Unitary System Central gov’t holds No local power all the power ____________________________________________________ * Federal System P ower is shared by Each level has to create national, state, and its own laws, elect local government officials, create agencies _____________________________________________________________ * Confederate Each state is Weak Central System represented government

AdvantagesDisadvantages Presidential Elected by the people makes the president’s power more legitimate President is supervised by others Speed and decisiveness of actions Fixed term provides more stability Is not constitutionally stable and has a tendency towards authoritarianism Allows government to shift blame Hard to remove an unsuitable president until his term is up Parliamentary Flexibility and responsiveness to the public More accountable since power is not divided Easier to pass legislation Popular among multicultural countries Easy transition to democracy Sometimes lead to unstable governments Lack checks and balances Head of government cannot be voted on Lack of election calendar