Principles of Government Chapter 1 Section 1

Government & It’s Purpose: Government: The institutions, people and processes by which a nation-state or political unit is ruled and its public policy created and administered

Government & It’s Purpose: Nation-State: A political unit with a defined territory, organized under a government and having the authority to make and enforce the law Territory: Land Population: People Sovereignty: Authority to make decisions Government: People with the authority to rule Politics: The methods or tactics involved in managing government and gaining power

You to can be a King All you need is about a billion dollars The Principality of Sealand All you need is about a billion dollars

Government & It’s Purpose Government has 5 main purposes: Protection: Provide protection for its citizens from threats abroad Maintenance of Public Order: Protecting citizens from violence from within Resolution of Social Conflicts: Serves as mediator when disputes arise between groups Responsibility for a Stable Economy: Keep the money flowing Provision of Public Services: Provide basic needs and care for those who are in need

Origins of Government: Evolution Theory: Sees government as an extension of the family (parents have power over the children) Families came together to form tribes (elders in charge) Force Theory: Governments formed as a result of one group’s conquest of another Victorious group would impose its rules on the conquered group

Divine Right Theory: Rulers divine their authority directly from god Defiance of rulers is defiance of god himself

Origins of Government: Social Contract Theory: The governed and those governing have obligations to each other, the people being governed will support the government and the government will protect the basic rights of the people Idea made popular by 17th and 18th Century philosophers, including John Locke, James Harrington, Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau

Power & Forms of Government: Power generally held by only a few people Elites: A small and privileged group who have a disproportionate share of money or political influence Marxist Theory: Those who control the economy have the real power, government is a tool of the rich Power Elite: Important policies made by three groups, corporate, military and political leaders The Bureaucrats: Elites are not well-known, are the people behind the scenes who carry out day-to-day operations of government The Pluralists: No single group has complete control of money, power or prestige; power split between many types of elites

All Governments can be classified by… 1. Who can participate in the governing process. 2. The geographic distribution of governmental power within the state. 3. The relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government.

Rule by… Rule by many (Democracy): Democracy: Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives Direct/Participatory Democracy: Democratic system in which all citizens participate in politics and decision-making Representative Democracy: Democratic system in which policies are made by officials accountable to the people who elect them

Rule by… Rule by one (Autocracy): Rule by few (Oligarchy): Absolute Monarchy: Ruler gains power through inheritance Dictatorship: Absolute ruler controls all power, usually by fear or force, ignores the will of the people Rule by few (Oligarchy): Aristocracy: “Rule by the finest,” power determined by social status, wealth or level of education Theocracy: Power to rule lies in the hands of religious groups Political Party: Control of all power by one political party

Forms of Government: Unitary System: Form of government where all the powers of government are held by a single unit or agency Rules applied equally to all, avoids costly duplications Examples include France, Japan, Denmark, Great Britain Federal System: From of government where powers are divided between a central authority and a number of regional political subdivisions Powers are separate but overlapping Confederations: Political system in which a weak central government has limited authority & the states have ultimate power Loose grouping of independent states

Forms of Government: Parliamentary Government: The executive leaders are chosen by and responsible to the legislature Chief executive is Prime Minister or Premier and is a member of the legislature (as are the members of his/her cabinet) Not popularly elected, but heads the majority party or coalition of parties Presidential Government: The legislative and executive branches are separate & function independently Chief executive is the president, popularly elected Both groups balance & check one another President is totally separate from the legislative branch