Government: What? Why? How? Notes to review Mr. Bishop’s study guide PART 1

6 PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

So… Form a more perfect union Establish justice Insure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote the general welfare Secure the blessings of liberty

DATES 1781—Articles of Confederation written 1787—US Constitution written 1788—US Constitution ratified

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION America’s first attempt of at a government In effect from March 1,1781—March 4, 1789 This was not the only time a confederation existed in US history: Confederate States of America, from 1861—1865 during the US Civil War

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION In a confederation, individual states have SOVEREIGNTY Sovereignty is absolute and supreme power within its boundaries

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION: PROBLEMS The national government did not have the power to tax The government could not regulate interstate trade There was no executive branch to enforce any laws passed by Congress There was no national court system Amending the Articles took a unanimous vote Laws needed 9 of states to agree

Government: What? Why? How? Notes to review Mr. Bishop’s study guide PART 2

DEMOCRACY—supreme political authority rests with the people METHOD 1: By who can participate DIRECT—the will of the people is directly turned into public policy INDIRECT—the will of the people is represented by appointed leaders Also known as REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY or a REPUBLIC Ch. 1, Section 2: Classifying Governments

DICTATORSHIP—those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people METHOD 1: By who can participate AUTOCRACY—a single person holds unlimited power MONARCHY—heredity determines ruler MILITARY—force determines ruler OLIGARCHY—power is held by a small, usually self- appointed group Ch. 1, Section 2: Classifying Governments

UNITARY—all powers by the government belong to one central government FEDERAL GOVERNMENT—powers are divided between a central government and a local government (division of power) CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT—an alliance of independent states Geographic distribution of power METHOD 2:

PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT—executive and legislative branches of the government are elected by the voters PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT—the executive branch is elected by the legislative branch METHOD 3: Relationship between the legislative and executive branches Ch. 1, Section 2: Classifying Governments

AUTHORITARIAN—any system where the government has all of the power LIBERAL—a system where the government gives power to the people TOTALITARIAN—a government which seeks to control all areas of public and private lives The amount of power that the government possesses METHOD 4:

ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY Cliesthenes, 508 B.C. When did it begin?

ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY Power to the people. Actual meaning of “demokratia”

ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY 50 people from 10 geographic divisions of Greece Job: to prepare legislation for the Assembly What was the responsibility of the Council of 500?

ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY Male Over 30 Had to be in one of the highest 2 social classes (later expanded to three) What were the requirements to be on the Council of 500?

ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY What were the responsibilities of the Assembly? Discuss and debate proposal Vote on and amend laws All male gathering of citizens…about 6000

Government: What? Why? How? Notes to review Mr. Bishop’s study guide PART 3

NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION 1.Worth of the individual Every individual’s rights may at times be subordinated to the interests of many. The Five Concepts

NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION 2.Equality of all persons The two qualities that every person must have: Equality of opportunity Equality before the law The Five Concepts

NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION 3. Majority rule, minority rights Every minority must have the chance to become, by fair and legal means, the majority. Tyranny of the majority: When a majority becomes self-interested and oppresses those in the minority The Five Concepts

NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION 4.Necessity of compromise The Five Concepts

NOTES ON CLASSIFICATION 5. Individual freedom Example of swinging the fist: any situation where the exercise of your individual freedom interferes with another’s individual freedom. Democracy places highest importance on individual freedoms The Five Concepts

ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGY Autocracy—a single person holds unlimited power Monarchy—a type of autocracy that is determined by heredity/family lineage Absolute–hereditary rule without limits (no checks on power) Examples: Saudi Arabia, Swaziland Constitutional–hereditary rule with limits (Parliament would check power) Examples: Great Britain, Australia

ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGY Dictatorship vs. Monarchy—dictatorships are not usually determined by heredity; monarchies are not always absolute Examples of dictatorships: North Korea, Cuba, Sudan Like an absolute monarchy in that the dictator has been passed down by family. It is now Kim Jong-un; was Kim Jong-il; before him, Kim Il-sung

ADDITIONAL TERMINOLOGY Tyranny—a dictatorship that does not have the support of the people Oligarchy--power is held by a small, usually self-appointed group