People and government

Principles of Government

The state State = Country Nation – a group of people who are united by common race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes religion

Essential features of a state Population - people Territory – established boundaries Sovereignty – supreme and absolute authority within its borders Government – institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces laws

Theories of the origin of the state Evolutionary Theory Force Theory Divine Right Theory Social Contract Theory

Purposes of government Maintaining Social Order Providing Public Services Providing National Security Making Economic Decisions

Types of Government

Major Types of government Autocracy – rule by one Totalitarian Dictatorship Absolute Monarchy Constitutional Monarchy Oligarchy – rule by a few Democracy – rule by many Direct Democracy Representative Democracy Libertarianism Liberalism

Characteristics of democracy Individual Liberty Majority Rule with Minority Rights Free Elections Competing Political Parties

The soil of democracy Active Citizen Participation A Favorable Economy Widespread Education Strong Civil Society A Social Consensus Active Citizen Participation – A Favorable Economy – Widespread Education – Strong Civil Society – A Social Consensus –

The formation of government

Government systems Unitary System Federal System Confederal System

Constitutions and government Incomplete Guides A Statement of Goals A Framework for Government The Highest Law Incomplete Guides – A Statement of Goals – A Framework for Government – The Highest Law –

Politics and Government Seeking Government Benefits Importance of Politics Special Interests Seeking Government Benefits Importance of Politics Special Interests

Governing in a complex world Major Inequalities Among States Growing Interdependence Nonstate International Groups Major Inequalities Among States (Country) – Growing Interdependence – Non-state International Groups –

economics

The role of economic systems What and how much should be produced? How should goods and services be produced? Who gets the goods and services that are produced? Economics seeks to answer these questions.

Economic Systems Tradidtional Planned Market Mixed

Traditional An economic system heavily influenced by habits, customs, and religious beliefs Characterized by very low unemployment rate Individual freedom is limited (roles of individuals are static from generation to generation)

Planned Government directly influences and vastly controls business practices due to ownership of natural resources and capital resources Considered synonymous with a communist economy

Market Privately owned factors of production (i.e., factories and machines) Prices are influenced by supply and demand Considered synonymous with a capitalist economy Individual’s purchasing decisions determines the types of products and services offered Minimal to no government involvement in business transactions

Mixed Privately owned factors of production (i.e., factories and machines) Prices are influenced by supply and demand An economic system that combines elements of all the other basic systems Considered synonymous with a capitalist economy Individual’s purchasing decisions determines the types of products and services offered Mixture of government involvement