1. Classifying Government and spatial organization of states Political Geography

2. Types of States State – a politically organized and sovereign territory

3. Nation – a tightly knit group of people who share cultural bonds Nationality and ethnicity are sometimes interchangeable

4. Nation-State: a sovereign state occupied by a nation EX: France, Poland, Japan

5. Multi-nation state: a sovereign state occupied by two or more nationalities EX: United Kingdom

6. Multi-state nation: an ethnic group that is not confined to a single state Example: Anglo-Saxon England Possibly Norway/Sweden

7. Stateless nation: a nation of people lacking a sovereign territory Ex: Kurds in Turkey, Iraq and Iran and 4 other countries

8. Geographic Distribution 1.Unitary government – powers are held in a single centralized location. Most countries are unitary – UK, Japan 2.Federal Government – powers are divided between a national government and local governments. Works in large countries like U.S., Canada, Australia National – State (Province) – Local 3. Confederate Government – central government has limited powers given to it by member states

9. Legislative Branch Oldest legislative body is in Iceland – Althing Election of local representatives Bicameral or unicameral

10. Legislative Types 1. Parliamentary System The two branches are not separate. The political party that wins the most seats in the legislative branch chooses the executive branch U.K., Japan 2. Congressional/Presidential System Separate elections for executive and legislative branch United States, Mexico, France

11. Executive Branch Chief of State – ceremonial head of government Chief Executive – the head of the executive branch President Prime Minister

12. Public Participation 1.Democracy – the legitimacy of the government is determined by the people a. direct democracy – all major policy decisions are determined by popular vote b. representative democracy (republic) – officials are elected to administer the government

13. 2. Totalitarian Systems a. dictatorship – govt. controlled by a single individual, no set ideology Ex: Castro, Kim il Un b. fascism – the individual is second to the state. Often run by a small elite group – oligarchy Ex: Nazi Germany

14. Economic Systems Defining characteristic is the property rights of the individual 1.Capitalism – minor limits on property rights, ownership of businesses 2.Socialism – more limits on property right, greater redistribution of $ by gov 3.Communism – no private property, everything is owned by the state

15. Systems of Rule Democracy Direct representative Authoritarian - Oligarchy – Theocracy – Monarchy – Anarchy –

16. III. Basic Concepts of Democracy Democracy, in its pure form, can be the most tyrannical form of government invented “mob rule” French Revolution for example

17. A.Fundamental Worth of the Individual The democracy begins with the individual When should the good of the many outweigh the rights of the individual?

18. B. Equality of all persons Are we all equal? In what sense are we equal? 1.Equality of opportunity 2.Equality before the law

19. C. Majority Rule & Minority Rights Majority rule is limited by the rights of the individual John Locke’s natural rights

20. D. Necessity of Compromise Under compromise, both sides take something from an agreement

21. E. Individual Freedom Absolute freedom only exists in anarchy But the freedom of anarchy inevitably leads to rule by the ruthless