What is Government?  Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces it’s public policies.  It is made up of those people who exercise its powers, all those who have the authority and control of the people.

Public Policies  Everything the government decides to do.  Covers matters from taxes, defense, education, crime, health care, transportation, the environment, civil rights, and working conditions. List goes on and on.  Governments must have power, to make and carry out public policies.

Three Basic kinds of power  Legislative Power- the power to make law and frame public policy  Executive Power- the power to execute, enforce, and administer law.  Judicial Power- the power to interpret law, determine their meaning and to settle disputes

Dictatorship  The ultimate responsibility for the exercise of these powers may be held by a single person or small group  Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.

Democracy  The responsibility for the exercise of these powers rests with the majority of the people  Therefore, the supreme authority rests within the people.

Four Characteristics of a State  Population- body of people  Territory- known or defined boundaries  Sovereignty- It is neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority (50 States lack this)  Government- politically organized

Origin of the State  The Force Theory - one person or group claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to their rule  Evolutionary Theory - Naturally born out of the early family. One person was the head and thus the “Government”. Started farming, tied to land, state was born  Divine Right Theory- God created the State and gave those of royal birth the “divine right” to rule. 15 th -18 th centuries  Social Contract Theory- By contract, people within a given area agreed to give up to the state as much power as was needed to promote the safety and well-being of all. (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)

The Purpose of Government  1. Form a More Perfect Union – belief that in Union there is strength  2. Establish Justice- The law, both in its content and administration, must be reasonable, fair, and impartial  3. Insure Domestic Tranquility - Order is essential to the well-being of any society. Keeping the peace at home has always been a prime function of government  4. Provide for the Common Defense -Security of the U.S. against foreign enemies  5. Promote the General Welfare – Services that government provides that benefits all or most people (school, air quality, drinking water…)  6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty – Preserve and Protect them, each generation must learn and understand them anew, and be willing to stand up for them

Unitary Government  Centralized government  All powers held by government belong to a single, central agency. (not dictator)  Government creates local units for its own convenience. Only have powers that government gives them

Federal Government  Powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments  Both levels of government act directly on the people through their own sets of laws, officials, and agencies.

Confederate Government  An alliance of independent states  A central organization, the confederate government has to power to handle only those matters that the member states have assigned to it.  Allows states to cooperate in matters of common concern and at the same time retain separate identities.