CHAPTER 7 Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. authority, government: The delegation of power is authority, and its organization can be found in government: Monarchy:Monarchy: a system of government in which a single person (a king or queen) rules by inherited power England’s government under Henry VIII was an absolute monarchy.

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. authority, government: The delegation of power is authority, and its organization can be found in government: Dictatorship:Dictatorship: a system of government in which one person has absolute authority, including complete domination of the citizens’ lives The government of Iraq under Saddam Hussein was a dictatorship. (Continued)

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. authority, government: The delegation of power is authority, and its organization can be found in government: Oligarchy:Oligarchy: a system of government in which a small group of people exercises total control The South African Parliament during the years of Apartheid was a form of oligarchy. (Continued)

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. authority, government: The delegation of power is authority, and its organization can be found in government: Theocracy:Theocracy: a system of government in which a religion establishes the principles of laws and religious leaders interpret and enforce those laws The former Taliban government in Afghanistan was a theocracy. (Continued)

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. authority, government: The delegation of power is authority, and its organization can be found in government: Democracy:Democracy: a system of government in which the will of the majority rules and citizens choose representatives in free elections The United States government is a democracy. (Continued)

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The democratic principle of a “free” government began in pre-Christian Greece and Rome. The Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that the democratic Greek “city-state” was the natural form of government. The term “veto,” which means “I forbid” in Latin, came from the Senate of the Roman Republic.

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The American colonies formed a democracy when they proclaimed their independence from England and organized as a nation. (Continued) The Signing of the Constitution by Howard Chandler Christy, 1940 The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, 1824

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The U.S. Constitution provides a blueprint for a government that consists of three branches, with power balanced between them. (Continued)

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. checks and balances A system of checks and balances keeps one branch of the government from becoming too powerful. (Continued) vetoThe president can veto a law drafted by Congress. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote. The Supreme court can declare a law unconstitutional.

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The Constitution is read, interpreted, and sometimes changed to adapt to shifting needs. amendments.There are 27 constitutional amendments. An amendment is proposed by 1) two thirds of both houses 2) a national convention Bill of Rights.The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights.

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. The U.S. struggles to keep a balance between individual freedom and general order. (Continued) “This sweeping legislation must be fixed if Americans are to preserve our basic freedoms and protect ourselves from broad government searches of our personal records and information.” --American Civil Liberties Union Website “There’s a thin line between increasing the powers of our federal government and maintaining Americans’ and Montanans’ civil liberties. I believe the bill we passed today balances the needs of protecting our rights as citizens of this great country.” --Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), October 25, 2001 The USA Patriot Act is one of the most controversial laws passed in recent history.

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Political views vary in extremes and moderation. (Continued) The Political Spectrum

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Political corruption is one reason for voter cynicism and nonparticipation. (Continued) President Richard M. Nixon resigns from office in the wake of the Watergate Scandal, 1974 Colonel Oliver North testifies at the Iran-Contra hearings, 1987 President Bill Clinton testifies before the grand jury about his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, 1998

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. An American citizen has several responsibilities: Voting Income Tax Jury Duty Selective Service (males only)

CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. There are many other ways that citizens can engage in democracy. (Continued) Attend meetings to gain information, discuss issues, or lend support. Sign a petition. Write letters to elected representatives. Campaign for a candidate; lobby for laws Demonstrate through marches, sit-ins, boycotts, or other forms of protest.

Copyright © 2003 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. THE END Chapter Review QuizGED Practice Quiz Practice the skills you learned in this chapter by taking the Chapter Review Quiz or the GED Practice Quiz. CHAPTER 7: Power, Authority, and Governance