Take out a sheet of paper, pen/pencil Syllabus QUIZ! Bell Work: Take out a sheet of paper, pen/pencil Syllabus QUIZ!

Syllabus QUIZ: 1) Test/Quizzes are _____ % of the overall grade. 2) The Notebook is ____% of the overall grade. 3) List 3 classroom rules. 4) What is plagiarism? 5) What happens if you get caught plagiarizing? 6) What should you do if you miss class? 7) What happens if you are tardy 3 times? 8) What are (2) legitimate reasons to leave class? 9) If you have a late assignment how many days past the due date do you have to turn it in? 10) Where can you find a copy of your syllabus?

What is Government? Government is an institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. The earliest known governments date from around 3000 B.C. in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. The Greek philosopher Aristotle observed more than 2,300 years ago that “man is by nature a political animal.”

The State Over the course of human history, the state has emerged as the dominant political unit. A State is a political community that has four characteristics: 1) population 2) territory 3) sovereignty 4) government

Population Territory Sovereignty Government living in a defined space, a body of people, Sovereignty Government and with an organization to do this. with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority,

Population That’s us! Definition: People who are the members or citizens of a state Population has a big influence on the type of government chosen by the state: Is the population rural or urban? What do people do for jobs? Do people get along or disagree on basic issues?

Territory Definition: the area in which a state’s rule applies A state must have set boundaries, but they are not always agreed on. Boundaries can change in three ways: war – people win or lose territory negotiation – people agree to trade territory purchase – states can buy territory from other states

Sovereignty Definition: the ability to rule absolutely within a given territory Because of sovereignty… states can set their own foreign policy and agendas. states are all equal in theory.

Public policy is the laws and rules that affect the public! Government Definition: the organization that makes and enforces the laws Government has many roles that all involve making public policy, but there are four main ways their governing affects the public… Public policy is the laws and rules that affect the public!

That’s us! Government Definition: the organization that makes and enforces the laws Government has many roles that all involve making public policy, but there are four main ways their governing affects the public… Keeping Order Protecting the Country Providing Services Making Economic Decisions

The State People often call a state a “nation” or a “country.” However, the word nation is an ethnic term, referring to races or other large groups of people. The word country is a geographic term, referring to a particular place, region, or area of land.

The largest State based on population is:

The People’s Republic of China Population: 1,324,655,000

The largest State based on territory is:

Russian Federation Area : 6,592,800 square miles

The smallest state based on population and territory is:

Population: 1,000 Area [sq.mi]: 0.17 Vatican City Population: 1,000 Area [sq.mi]: 0.17

Is the United States just one big state? Figure It Out! Is the United States just one big state? Does it have a population? YES NO Does it have a territory? YES NO Does it have sovereignty? YES NO Does it have government? YES NO

What about “states” like Connecticut or Florida? Are they states? Figure It Out! What about “states” like Connecticut or Florida? Are they states? Do they have a population? YES NO Do they have a territory? YES NO Do they have sovereignty? YES NO Do they have government? YES NO

How did the state or government come to be? No one knows why people created the earliest governments. Scholars have constructed some theories.

Theories of the Origin of the State 1) Evolutionary Theory

Theories of the Origin of the State 2) Force Theory

Theories of the Origin of the State 3) Divine Right Theory

Theories of the Origin of the State 4) Social Contract Theory:

Discussion Question: Why is your theory of the origin of the state the most logical?

Independence! Nearly a century later the American colonies revolted against King George III, supported by the political philosophy of natural rights Locke had written.

The Purpose of Government Today governments serve several major purposes:

The Purpose of Government 1)To maintain social order- people can't live without conflict. Gov't provides ways to resolve conflict by placing limits on what people can do.

The Purpose of Government 2) To provide public services - Gov't provides essential services that make community life possible and promotes the general welfare. Ex. sewer systems and inspection of meat.

The Purpose of Government 3) To provide national security- protect people against the threat of attack or terrorism.

The Purpose of Government 4) To make economic decisions-Gov't passes laws that determine and control the economic environment of the state. From providing a national currency to controlling every individual's economic decisions.

Have Popular attitudes toward government changed since Lincoln’s time? “The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done but cannot do at all, or cannot so well do for themselves in their separate and individual capacities. But in all that people can individually do for themselves, government ought not to interfere.” -Abraham Lincoln, 1854 Have Popular attitudes toward government changed since Lincoln’s time?