Principles of Government Chapter 1

Government and the State Section 1 Government and the State

What is Government? Government – is the institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies. Public policies – All of those things a government decides to do.

Governmental Power Every government exercises three types of power: Legislative Power: the power to make laws and frame public policies. Executive Power: The power to execute, enforce, and administer laws. Judicial Power: The power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within a society.

Constitutions Many times the powers of government are written in a constitution. A constitution is the body of fundamental laws which sets out the principles, structures, and processes of government.

Who has governmental power? In a dictatorship, governmental power is held by a single individual or a small group and those in power are not held responsible to the will of the people. In a democracy, the exercise of governmental power rests with the majority of the people and supreme authority rests with the people.

What is politics? Politics is the process by which society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that society.

The State The dominant political unit in the world today. A State is: a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority. Over 200 states exist in the world today. Commonly referred to as a “nation” or “country”

What makes a State? Population Territory Sovereignty Government To have supreme and absolute authority to decide matters of public policy within a geographic territory. Government

Origins of the State The Force Theory The Evolutionary Theory The Devine Right Theory The Social Contract Theory Originally people lived in a “state of nature” until they freely decided to formulate a social contract to create a state for safety. Important theory for understanding the foundations of U.S. government.

The Purpose of Government What does government do? For the United States the purpose of government is listed in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Form a More Perfect Union Establish Justice Insure Domestic Tranquility Provide for the Common Defense Promote the General Welfare Secure the Blessings of Liberty