Government and the State Chapter 1, Section 1: Government and the State

What is government and what does it have the right to do? Government is: the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies made up of all the people who have authority and control over people by exercising government power Government needs power because it has the right to make and carry out public policies, and may need to command or prevent action in order to do so.

What are public policies? Give a couple of examples: Public policies are all of those things a government decides to do. Examples include: Taxation Defense Education Crime control Health care Civil rights Environmental protection

What is legislative power? Give an example of a piece of legislation: Legislative power is the power to make laws and frame public policies. Examples include: Pure Food and Drug Act Social Security Act Voting Rights Act Patriot Act

What is executive power? Give an example of an executive act: Executive power is the power to enforce and administer laws. This includes “executing” acts of Congress (the legislature), but also: FDR’s bank ‘holiday’ Executive Order 9066 De-segregation of the military SALT treaty

What is judicial power? Give an example of a major judicial decision: Judicial power is the power to interpret laws, determine their meanings, and settle disputes. Major judicial decisions are very often handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. For example: Brown vs. Board of Education Roe vs. Wade Miranda vs. Arizona

What is a constitution? What does it do and what two things can it not do? A constitution is the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, processes and limits of government. It is vital, but it cannot: Assure that all other laws which are made make sense and are fair to all people Assure that people who work in government are well qualified

What is dictatorship? What are some examples? Dictatorship exists when the person or small group who rules cannot be held accountable by the people. Examples include: Alexander, Napoleon, Hitler Politburo in former USSR Castro brothers (Cuba) Ahmedinejad

What is democracy? What is the relationship between democracy and politics? Supreme authority rests with the people, who govern themselves. In a few, mostly historic cases (Athens), this is done directly. Most democracies in large states are representative, meaning that the people choose leaders who run the government. Politics is the process by which people decide who these leaders will be.

What are the four characteristics of a state What are the four characteristics of a state? Which one would Pennsylvania (or Kansas) not appear to have? Population Territory Sovereignty Government Our State, as with all of the fifty states, does not have sovereignty. Only the United States does, like France.

By strict definition, what is the meaning of a state By strict definition, what is the meaning of a state? Why does the text use a capital S when referring to the fifty United States? A state must be sovereign, having total control over its territory and people. States like the U.S. and France have this quality, and so did the original Thirteen Colonies. But the Constitution makes States back down in conflicts with the U.S., so we can say they gave up their sovereignty.

What are the four theories of how a state originated What are the four theories of how a state originated? Who created the social contract theory? The four: Force theory Evolutionary theory Divine right theory Social contract theory Locke, Harrington and Hobbes in England, and Rousseau in France, created the social contract theory, the basis of our American revolution.

What does rule by divine right mean? From the 1400s to 1700s in Europe, people believed that God had given those of royal birth the ‘divine’ or god-given right to rule; hence, revolution was not just treason but a sin. People like Adams and Jefferson rejected this, however, in favor of Locke and Hobbes.

Form a more perfect union Establish justice What are the main purposes of government? Where are these purposes stated conveniently? Main purposes: Form a more perfect union Establish justice Insure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote the general welfare Secure the blessings of liberty This is stated in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution. September 17th

Which one of the purposes of government did the framers of the U. S Which one of the purposes of government did the framers of the U.S. government seem to consider most important? “Provide for the common defense”, and we know this because of its many mentions in the Constitution (also happens to be the biggest budget item this year). This, above all, is why a federation of many United States has survived far longer than the confederation of thirteen states in the 1780s.

So, what do you think? Why do we need government? What are the parts of the U.S. government? What happened to the governments of the States when the Constitution was ratified (approved)? How do we participate in choosing our government? If you don’t participate, what is your role in the social contract?