1. Government and the State

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

3. Powers of Government
Legislative: makes laws and frames public policies
Executive: executes, enforces, and administers laws
Judicial: interprets laws, settles disputes
These powers of government are outlined in a country’s-
Constitution: the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government

4. Dictatorship vs. Democracy
Power is held by a single person or a small group
Democracy
Power is held by the people

5. The State Four Characteristics
Population: large or small, every state must be inhabited (have a population)
Territory: every state must have land, with known and recognized borders
Sovereignty: the state has absolute power within its territory.
It can decide its own foreign and domestic policies
Government: the mechanism through which a state makes and enforces its policies

6. Origin of the State

7. Which two best describe the origin of dictatorships?
Which represent democracy?