What is Government? Chapter 1 - Sect. 1 American Government What is Government? Chapter 1 - Sect. 1

What is Government? Decision making authority for a group of people

Governments in the U.S. U.S. Government 1 State Governments 50 Local Governments 83,186 County Governments 3,032 Municipal Governments 19,200 Townships 16,661 School Districts 14,721 Special Districts 29,532 Total 166,383

What is the Purpose of a Government? Maintains Social Order helps keep the peace Provides Services to the Public welfare, food stamps, social security, Medicaid Provide Security/ National Defense Make Economic Decisions

In Order to Have an Effective Government, You Must Have 4 Things: What are they? . People . Territory People + Territory = Nation-State 3. Government 4. Sovereignty

What is a Nation-State? “Nation” “State” Group of People Who Share Similar Beliefs “Nation” Live Within a Defined Territory or Boundary “State”

The Authority to Govern What is Sovereignty? The Authority to Govern “Sovereignty” Where Does This Authority Come From? People

4 Roles of the Government Provide Public Services How Does the Government Accomplish These Roles?

4 Theories of Government Evolution Force Divine Right Social Contract

Government Systems System is Determined by How the Sovereignty is Divided FEDERAL UNITARY CONFEDERATE

Systems of Government Federalism Powers divided between national govnt. and the states Works best in larger countries Faster response to people’s needs Laws usually less uniform

What is the Federal System of Gov? Its Where the Power is Divided Between Several Governments!

Unitary Government Central Govnt. Holds all the Power Most Common form of Govnt. Power may be Sweeping!

Confederate Government Collection of independent states Can give/take away central govt. authority All must agree Difficult to set policy United Nations

What Is Politics Anyway? Attempt to Control or Influence Government Why Are So Many People Involved in “Politics?” Why is Politics Important?

3 Types of Political Systems “Who Holds the Power” 1. Autocracy – ruled by a single individual Oldest Type of Government Dictatorship Use Force/Military - Monarchies Absolute Constitutional – Great Britain, Sweden, Japan

2. Oligarchy - ruled by a few/small group - Power comes from wealth, military, religion Communism China, Cuba, Old Soviet Union Everything owned by the government Work based on your ability and paid by what the Government thinks you need!

3. Democracy - ruled by many 2 Types of Democracy Direct People govern themselves Representative People choose (elect) someone to make decisions for them Presidential/Parliamentary Republic – Voters hold the sovereign “Power”

What Makes Democracy Work?? A Favorable Economy Widespread Education Social Consensus Citizen Participation Strong Civil Society

Section 4 Economic Systems What is an Economic System?

The Role of Economic Systems Section 4-4 Although there are many kinds of economic systems, all of them must make three major economic decisions:  What and how much should be produced?  How should goods and services be produced?  Who gets the goods and services that are produced?  Each major type of economic system– capitalism, socialism, and communism– answers these questions differently. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Meeting People’s Wants & Needs Through The Production Distribution Exchange of Goods and Services

Government Economy Who Owns the Production? Who Will Share In What Is Produced = $$$ Who is Employed and at What Salary

3 Types Of Economic Systems Capitalism Socialism Communism Government Involvement?

Capitalism Grew out of a theory called “laissez faire’ “To allow to do” Based upon the Free Enterprise System Competition is Good! Causes Business to make quality product – Consumers reap the rewards! Many Sales = Profits $$$

Capitalism Section 4-5 Capitalism emphasizes freedom of choice and individual incentive for workers, investors, consumers, and business enterprises.  Pure capitalism has five main characteristics:  private ownership and control of property and economic resources  free enterprise  competition among businesses  freedom of choice  the possibility of profits Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Supply & Demand Is The Key! The More a Product Is In Demand, The Higher The Price!

Origins of Capitalism (cont.) Section 4-7 The free market meant that buyers and sellers were free to make unlimited economic decisions in the marketplace.  Adam Smith, a Scottish philosopher and economist, described capitalism in his book The Wealth of Nations.  He believed in laissez-faire economics, or the idea that government should keep its hands off the economy. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

The U.S. Has A “Mixed Economy” The Government Regulates Some Aspects Of The Economy Minimum Wage Law, Building Codes, FDA, Banking Capitalism Seems To Work Best In A Democratic Society, Why?

Mixed-Market Economy Section 4-11 A mixed-market economy is an economy in which free enterprise is combined with and supported by government decisions in the marketplace.  Even though it is a mixed-market economy, the American economic system is rooted deeply in the idea of individual initiative, and it respects the right of all persons to own private property.  The American system also recognizes that freedom to make economic choices is a part of the freedom of political choice. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Socialism Only some Private ownership Government owns all public works Belief is that all of society should benefit Distribute the wealth equally Government has a preconceived plan for production Great Britain and Sweden are Socialist

Socialism (cont.) Section 4-13 Socialism has three main goals:  the distribution of wealth and economic opportunity equally among people  society’s control, through its government, of all major decisions about production  public ownership of most land, of factories, and of other means of production Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Socialism (cont.) Section 4-14 Socialism began to develop in nineteenth-century Europe as a response to the problems of industrialization.  Many workers’ living and working conditions were miserable.  Some socialists favored violent revolution, while others planned and built socialist communities where workers were supposed to share profits equally. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Communism Society as a Whole Owns All Means of Production No Wages/Rent Work According To Ability/ Paid According to Your Need

Communism Section 4-16 Karl Marx (1818-1883), a German thinker and writer, was a socialist who advocated violent revolution.  In The Communist Manifesto (1848) and later in Das Kapital (1867), Marx said that the capitalist system would collapse. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Communism (cont.) Section 4-17 He believed that in industrialized nations the population is divided into capitalists, or the bourgeoisie who own the means of production, and workers, or the proletariat, who work to produce the goods.  The bourgeoisie use their economic power to force their will on the workers. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Communism as a Command Economy Section 4-19 In Communist nations, government planners decide how much to produce, what to produce, and how to distribute the goods and services produced.  This system is called a command economy because decisions are made at the upper levels of government and handed down to managers. Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information.

Why Has The Communist System Had Difficulty Surviving? Time For A QUIZ !