2. THE STATE

3. WHAT IS A STATE? Hint: we are not talking about the US yet, but instead political theory…

4. WHAT IS A STATE? Not Pennsylvania, not a subdivision of a country….. A state is something larger to political theorists. A state is a body of people living in a defined space with the power to make and enforce laws and with the organization to do so. States do not have to check with a higher authority. They have their own government which is their highest authority.

5. WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ALL STATES HAVE?

6. ALL STATES HAVE CERTAIN FEATURES. Population All states have people! Large or small (China has 1.3 billion, while Nauru has only about 10,000) Populations have different features  Wealthy or poor  Rural or urban  Educated or not  Often they share a common language  Often cultural traditions are shared as well

7. ALL STATES HAVE CERTAIN FEATURES Territory This is the area in which a state’s rule applies States must have boundaries, though different states do not always agree on what they are Boundaries can change due to…  War  Negotiations  Purchases  Others?  River movements!

8. ALL STATES HAVE CERTAIN FEATURES Sovereignty The ability to rule absolutely within a territory This principle states that all states are equal to one another  Should not interfere with each other States decide what kinds of relationships they will have  This is their foreign policy States also have sovereignty in that they decide how things will operate within their borders

9. ALL STATES HAVE CERTAIN FEATURES Government The organization within a state that controls the actions and policies of the state Governments have 4 main roles  Make laws  Protecting the state  Keeps order  Provide services to the people  Also…  Make economic decisions

10. MiniQuiz

11. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN? A state can’t have less than 30,000 people.

12. Monaco has only 27,000 people! THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

13. The boundaries of a territory can change. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

14. Can you name the three ways that boundaries change? THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN? War War Negotiation with other countries Negotiation with other countries Purchasing land from other countries Purchasing land from other countries

15. Sovereignty means that you have to check with someone above you. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

16. Just the opposite! Sovereignty means there is NO ONE above you! THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

17. Government only exists to keep order and provide security. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

18. What are the four roles that governments have? THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN? Protect the country Protect the country Make laws Make laws Keep order Keep order Help citizens Help citizens

19. The 50 states that make up the USA are not considered independent “states.” THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

20. That’s right! They don’t have full sovereignty! THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN?

21. CREATE YOUR OWN STATE Create your own flag Create your state’s boundaries Create a name Describe your state’s features at the bottom!