1. What is a State?
American Government

2. Purpose:
The students will understand the basic characteristics, powers, and origins of a state.

3. What is a government? Central Message:
Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy.
Public policy is all of the goals a government sets and the various courses of action it pursues as it attempts to realize these goals.
What is a government?

4. Three types of power Central Message:
Legislative Power: the power to make laws
Executive Power: the power to enforce laws
Judicial Power: the power to interpret laws
Three types of power

5. Characteristics of a State
Central Message:
Population
A state is a body of people living in a defined territory who have a government with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.
Territory
Government
Characteristics of a State
Sovereignty

6. Origins of the State Central Message: Force Theory Evolutionary Theory
Divine Right Theory
Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Origins of the State

7. Preamble to the Constitution
Central Message:
Form a more perfect union.
Establish justice.
Insure domestic tranquility.
Provide for the common defense.
Promote the general welfare.
Secure the blessings of liberty.
Purpose of Government
Preamble to the Constitution

8. Values:
The students will understand the basic characteristics, powers, and origins of a state.