1. Ideas for Government

2. What is Government? The power to rule.
“the capacity to get other people to do things that contribute to what we want” Boulding
What right do people have to rule?
Tradition – parents, Kings.
Legal – contract, constitution – Principals, police
These have legitimacy. That is the acceptance of those being ruled to be ruled.

3. John Locke’s Philosophy
There are certain natural rights that are endowed by God to all human beings: life, liberty, property!
The idea that anyone should inherit the right to rule was ridiculous!
He favored a republic as the best form of government.
People are naturally good. Government has a duty to serve the people and protect their interests. If it does not…
America follows this idea! 1776
(see cartoon)

4. Thomas Hobbes’ Philosophy
Humans are naturally evil.
“Life is nasty, brutish and short”
Need to be told how to behave
Therefore need a strong government to keep them doing the right thing!
Hobbes called this a Leviathan
(scary sea monster – like a Kraken)
Described the relationship as a
“social contract” (see cartoon)
DO YOU THINK LIKE HOBBES OR LOCKE?

5. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
General Will of the People
Governments rule only with the consent of the people. If the people oppose government, they should overthrow it. It should represent the “general will”.
The Social Contract, 1762

6. The Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
“On the Spirit of Laws”
Idea of Separation of Powers – 3 Branches!
Executive
Legislative
judicial
No single man or entity should have too much power.

7. Types of Government
Democracy - The word "democracy" literally means "rule by the people." In a democracy, the people govern. Everybody has a say in decisions made. Ancient Greece was the founder of this idea. Is the US a democracy?
Republic - A literal democracy is impossible in a political system containing more than a few people. All "democracies" are really republics. In a republic, the people elect a leader to make and enforce laws.

8. Types Of Government
Monarchy - consists of rule by a king or queen. Power is inherited! The United Kingdom, which has a queen, is not really a monarchy because the queen has virtually no political power. Saudi Arabia’s royal family still has great power.
Dictatorship - consists of rule by one person or a group of people. Very few dictators admit they are dictators; they almost always claim to be leaders of democracies. The dictator may be one person, such as Castro in Cuba or Hitler in Germany, or a group of people, such as the Communist Party in China. Today these arise as the result of a coup d’etat. That is a military overthrow of the government.

9. Types of Government
Theocracy - A form of government where the rulers claim to be ruling on behalf of a set of religious ideas, or as direct agents of a deity. Can you think of any theocracies in the modern world?
Vatican and Iran. Afghanistan under the Taliban was one.
One Party System – Often in communist states, one party elite run the government. There are elections but….
Syria is an example, the Ba’ath party led by Bashar al Assad.

10. Variations
Constitutional Monarchy – the powers of the monarch are limited by a constitution. GB became one after the Glorious Revolution 1688.
Constitutional Democracy - an elected government based on a written constitution. “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” A. Lincoln
Communism – government controls all aspects of the economy. Based on Karl Marx. Idea to create a society that allowed total equality and security for all citizens. Meant the government and therefore the people owned everything.

11. Economic Systems People need “stuff” to survive.
What do we make with limited resources?
How do we make “stuff” (Ma and Pa or conglomerates?)
Who decides who gets what? How?
The organization of production and consumption

12. Command Economy – Communist
Command Economy – Communist. Government makes all decisions regarding the economy. (Fill in the chart).
What advantages are there?
What disadvantages are there?
What countries fit this description?
Explain the cartoon!

13. Free Market / Laissez Faire – Capitalist
Free Market / Laissez Faire – Capitalist. Individuals make all decisions regarding the economy, consumers and producers. Government is to “leave alone” or “let it be”. (Fill in the chart).
What advantages are there?
What disadvantages are there?
What countries fit this description?
Explain the cartoon!

14. Mixed / Socialist Economy – A combination of the previous two
Mixed / Socialist Economy – A combination of the previous two. Some government control of “vital industries, but also private enterprise. (Fill in the chart).
What disadvantages are there?
What advantages are there?
What countries fit this description?
Explain the cartoon!