Government and the State Chapter 1 Section 1

What is Government? Government – institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies Public Policies – everything a government decides

3 Kinds of Power 1.Legislative Power – to make law and policy 2.Executive Power – to execute and enforce 3.Judicial Power – to interpret laws – Powers are outlined in a Constitution – Constitution – written outline of a government

Ways to government Dictatorship – one leader, dictates the law Democracy – power rests in the hand of the people Democracy Index by The Economist, Countries marked in dark colors are authoritarian, and most often dictatorships.

The State State – body of people living in a territory who are organized politically and create laws – 190 states in the world today, defined by Population – state must have people (30k – 1.3billion) Territory – property (24 sq miles – 6.6 million sq miles) Sovereign – has its own supreme power, our states are not sovereign Government – enforce public policies, with out Anarchy

Political Ideas Force Theory – people forced a government onto others Evolutionary Theory – formed from the basic family and developed – Family -> clan -> tribe -> (gave up nomadic ways) gained territory

Political Ideas Divine Right – 15 th – 18 th centuries – god gave the right to rule Social Contract Theory – (Hobbs, Locke, Rousseau) – State exists to serve the people

Purpose 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.” - Preamble of the US Constitution

Purpose of Government Form a more perfect union - In union there is strength Establish Justice – The laws must be fair, reasonable and practical – “Injustice anywhere,” said MLK Jr. “is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Purpose of Government Insure Domestic Tranquility – order is essential to societies – “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” – James Madison Provide for the Common Defense – defend against foreign enemies – North Korea??? Iran??? “You can only be free, if I can be.” – Clarence Darrow

Purpose of Government Promote the General Welfare – tasks for the benefit of all (roads, water, schools and laws)

Secure the Blessings of Liberty – each generation must understand our laws and defend them when the time comes – All our rights are not guaranteed forever