Government and the State Standard USG – 1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of foundational political theory, concepts, and application.

What is Government? Government – the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies Public Policy – all the things a government decides to do Governments must have power to make and carry out public policy Power – the ability command or prevent action, the ability to achieve a desired end

3 Basic Kinds of Power Legislative power – the power to make law and frame public policies Executive power – the power to execute, enforce, and administer law Judicial power – the power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise Powers of government often outlined in a country’s constitution

Types of Government Dictatorship Democracy Power held by a single person or small group Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people Examples: North Korea – Kim Jong-un Syria – President Bashar al- Assad Supreme authority rests with the people Government is held responsible to the will of the people Examples: United States – President Barack Obama Germany – Chancellor Angela Merkal

Origins of Government Among oldest of all human inventions Origins lost to time Humans could not survive without some kind of way to regulate human’s behavior Earliest evidence dates back to ancient Egypt

The State State – dominant political unit in the world Defined as a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (government), and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority Currently, 196 States make up the world Vary greatly in size, military power, natural resources, and economic importance

4 Characteristics of a State - Population State must have population Size of population does not affect if it is a state or not StatePopulation Size Percent of World’s Population China1.385 Billion19% India1.252 Billion17.4% United States320 Million4.43% Vatican City< %

4 Characteristics of a State - Territory State must have land, defined territory with known and recognized borders Size does not affect if a state exists or not StateSize of State Russia6.592 million sq. miles Canada3.851 million sq. miles United States3.717 million sq. miles Vatican City.44 sq. miles

4 Characteristics of a State – Sovereignty Each state is the supreme and absolute authority of the land Neither subordinate or responsible to any other authority Can decide its own foreign and domestic policies One characteristic that distinguishes the state from all other, lesser political units

4 Characteristics of a State - Government Every state is politically organized, has a government Government includes the machinery and the personnel by which the state is ruled Government is necessary to avoid “the war of every man against every man.” – Thomas Hobbes

Major Political Ideas 4 most widely accepted theories on the origin of the state: The Force Theory – one person or small group of people claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to that person’s or group’s will The Evolutionary Theory – state developed naturally out of the family unit The Divine Right Theory – God created the state and that God had given those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule The Social Contract Theory – by agreeing with one another, people in a given area give up to the state as much power as needed to promote the safety and well-being of all

The Purpose of Government The Preamble to the Constitution: “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.” The 6 purposes of the United States government: Form a more perfect union; establish justice; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare; and secure the blessings of liberty

Questions What is government? What are public policies? Every government must have 3 basic kinds of power, what are they? Body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of government is known as what? The state must have what 4 characteristics to be considered a state.

Questions continued What are the 4 major political theories on the origin of the state? Which political theory is most significant to American political thought? What are the 6 purposes of government as stated in the Preamble to the Constitution?