1. Bell Ringer, Jan. 8 Define the following term: Power

2. U.S. Government: Civic IQ Assessment This is an exercise in self-awareness. It is to prod you to think about how much you know about the workings of the American political system and the structure of government. Evaluate yourself as a citizen as well as a student of American government. These questions do not encapsulate the most important information needed for a citizen to vote or participate in American politics. They are tools to get you to think about how well you understand some of the fundamentals of the structure of American government and how familiar you are with contemporary policy makers so that you may want to learn more. Respond to the following questions on notebook paper. “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.” John Adams

3. Principles of Government Chapter 1

4. What is Government? The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. It’s a very old invention-appeared when humans realized that survival depended on some way to regulate their actions as well as their neighbors: 6 th century B.C. Ancient Egypt What are the components of government? (the 3 p’s) Public policies are all those things a government decides to do-matters involving taxation, defense, education, crime, healthcare, transportation, environment, civil rights and the list goes on. To make and carry out public policies, governments must have power What are the basic kind of powers all governments have?

5. Bell Ringer, Jan. 12 “…man is by nature a political animal” Aristotle, ca 384 B.C. What do you think Aristotle meant by this statement?

6. He saw his society and all other societies he knew about had governments. This could mean that people have a natural tendency to engage in the political process which decides how a society will be governed.

7. What is Politics? Politics is a process rather than an institution The methods by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed Politics enables a society to decide who reaps the benefits, and who will pay the costs, of its public polices It is neither good nor bad, but necessary.

8. The State Defined as a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.

9. The State Legal and political entitiy-the political actor on the internatinal scene Often called a “nation” or “country” Nation-term used to describe an independent state or country; more specifically, it is an ethnic term that refers to a group of people sharing a common culture (language, race, traditions, customs) Country-a geographic term referring to a particular place, region, or area of land

10. State vs. Nation Which one is the US a State or a Nation? –Both The best way to describe the US is a nation- state (may consist of singe or multiple nationalities together in a formal political system who can identify culturally and linguistically)

11. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A STATE: What are the requirements to be recognized as a State (nation)? POPULATION TERRITORY SOVEREIGNTY GOVERNMENT

12. Population Large or small, every state must be inhabited Nature of a state’s population affects its stability States are most stable when the people share a political and social consensus Population affects a state through its mobility meaning political power may shift from one area to another

13. Territory Every state must have land, with known and recognized borders Territories may increase or decrease as a result of war, negotiations with another country, or the purchase by the state of additional territory.

14. Sovereignty States have supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies It’s the one characteristic that distinguishes the state from all other lesser political units in the world.

15. Government Every state is politically organized Without government, there would be “continual fear and danger of violent death and life [would be] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” –Thomas Hobbs (1588-1679)

16. Bell Ringer, Jan. 13 What do you think? Respond to the following 3 questions. 1.Why do people create government 2.What purposes do governments they serve? 3.Where did we get our ideas about government? I don’t know is not an answer and will not earn you credit for the BR-make an effort.

17. The Purposes of Government

18. Maintain Social Order Governments provide ways to settle disagreements among citizens by creating a court system Governments make and enforce laws that protect the safety and security of people and property

19. Providing Public Services Government provides services needed to make community life possible and to promote the general welfare.

20. Providing National Security Governments protect its people against attacks from other states or from internal threats, such as terrorism Also, governments handle dealings, such as trade agreements, with other countries

21. Making Economic Decisions Governments use their power to provide citizens with economic needs and wants Laws are passed to regulate the economic environment Governments intervene in the economic affairs of other nations by providing aid

22. Making Economic Decisions Governments may make choices that distribute benefits and public services among citizens Governments stimulate economic growth by controlling inflation, encouraging trade, and regulating the development of natural resources

23. Theories on the Origin of the State Evolutionary Theory Force Theory Divine Right Theory Social Contract Theory

24. Evolutionary Theory Heads of primitive families served as the earliest government Related families became clans In time, clans became tribes When tribes gave up their nomadic ways and tied themselves to the land, the state was born Government emerged gradually as tribes needed more organization

25. Force Theory The state is born out of force Government emerged when all the people in an area were forced to accept the authority of one person or group When this rule was established, all the elements of the state were present

26. Divine Right Theory Rulers of ancient civilizations were held to be gods or to have been chosen by the gods to rule Divine right was not unique to European history Widely accepted in the Western world from the 15 th century through the 18 th century Held that God created the state and had given those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule People were bound to obey their ruler as they would God Opposition to this practice was treason and a mortal sin

27. Social Contract Theory Thomas Hobbs-The Leviathan (1651)  In a state of nature, man is at war with every other man  To secure peace, men make contracts establishing a sovereign power  Monarchy is the best form of government  Sovereign power is not subject to law because he creates the law

28. Social Contract Theory John Locke Most significant theory as it relates to the American political system All men are equal in the state of nature Natural law binds men by virtue of their nature alone, not because it is written Men have the right to punish transgressors of the natural law

29.  To avoid problems of the state of nature, men enter into contracts and create civil societies empowered to judge men and defend natural rights.  It arose out of a voluntary act of free people  People have the right to dissolve government if it violates the social contract.  Holds that the state exists only to serve the will of the people and they are the sole source of political power freely giving power or withholding power as they choose

30. Bell Ringer, Jan. 19 True/False 1.A state is a country that has a simpler type of government. 2.A nation may wage war with another nation to protect its own national security Multiple Choice 3.A nation can become a state when it has which of these? A. common language B. organized government C. standing army D. unique customs 4. A state has sovereignty when it is able to do which of the following? A. Freely create and enforce laws B. Invade and take over any other state C. Occupy a particular area of land D. Punish its citizens for any action