1. Principles of Government
Chapter 1

2. Government and the State:
What is Government?
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
Public Policies –
All of those things a government decides to do.

3. Three Branches of Government:
Legislative
Congress – MAKES LAWS
Executive
President – ENFORCE LAWS
Judicial
Courts – INTERPRET LAWS

4. Powers of Government: Constitution Dictatorship Democracy
A body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
Dictatorship
Those who rule cannot be held responsible by the people
Democracy
Supreme authority rests with the people

5. The State: Population – A state must have people
Territory – A state must have land
Sovereignty – A state has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies. It is neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority.
Government – Every state is politically organized

6. Origins of the State: Force Theory Evolutionary Theory
Divine Right Theory
Social Contract Theory

7. Purpose of Government Form a More Perfect Union Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty

8. Forms of Government: Who Can Participate?
Democracy – Political authority rests with the people.
Direct Democracy – Does not exist today – Ancient Greek culture
Representative Democracy – small group of people chosen by the people act as representatives of the popular will
Dictatorship – Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.
Autocracy – single person holds unlimited political power.
Oligarchy – power to rule is held by a small, usually self- appointed elite.

9. Geographic Distribution of Power:
Unitary - One Branch holds all The Power at one level; predominately the National level-Ex. Great Britain
Federal – Powers are divided between central and local governments-Ex.-United States
Confederate – Alliance of Independent States; authority is held on the State Level-Ex.-Articles of Confederation or European Union

10. Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branches:
Presidential Government – Executive and Legislative Branches are SEPARATE!
Parliamentary Government – The Executive Branch is made up of members from the Legislative Branch

11. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Worth of the Individual
Equality of All Persons
Majority Rule, Minority Rights
Necessity of Compromise
Individual Freedom

12. Democracy and the Free Enterprise System
Commitment to freedom evident in our political system
That same commitment carries over to our economic system
Free Enterprise System
Private Ownership
Individual Initiative
Profit
Competition

13. Mixed Economy Our economy is not purely Capitalistic
Government participates to protect the public and preserve private enterprises
Regulate the economy
Sherman Anti-Trust Act-preventing Monopolies
Promote the economy
Gov’t grants for transportation, research etc.
Small business loans