1. Classifying Governments
The evolution of democracy
Classifying Governments

2. Purposes of Government
Form a more perfect union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote General Welfare
Secure Blessings of Liberty
“A nation is formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good…For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us.” Barbara Jordan

3. 3 Ways to Classify Governments
1. Who Participates
Autocratic vs. Democratic
2. Selecting the Executive
3. Geographic Distribution of Power

4. 1. Who Participates?
Autocracy- “self-rule” one ruler who arbitrarily rules and controls the people’s lives in the name of the people
Monarchy-Denmark
Dictatorship-former Iraq
Totalitarian- Peoples’ Republic of China, former Soviet Union

5. Who Participates? Oligarchy-rule by few
Junta- rule by military (former Chile, Thailand, Pakistan)
Aristocracy- rule by landed classes (former Mexico)
Theocracy- rule by religious officials (Iran, Vatican)

6. Who Participates?
Democracy- “rule of the people”
Direct
Indirect

7. democratic theory An ideal democracy should have Equality in voting
Effective participation
Enlightened understanding
Citizen control of agenda
Inclusion
(also majority rule with minority rights)

8. American democratic theory
Pluralist Theory: politics is defined by competition between groups pressing for its own policies and then finding compromise to serve the public interest
“nation of joiners” de Tocqueville
Group membership may be declining
Elite and Class Theory: society is divided along class lines and the upper class elite will always rule
We are not home to the market place that Adam Smith wrote about
Hyperpluralism: a perverted pluralism, groups are so strong and so many that government is weakened
If a group loses in Congress, they have the Courts
Politicians try to placate every group leading to muddled public policy

9. Presidential-executive chosen at large by voters
Parliamentary-Executive is part of legislative Branch and chosen by its majority party
More cooperation between the executive and the legislature-questions with the Prime Minister once a week
More accountability for the executive-legislature can ask for vote of no confidence
Cabinet officials play an active role in enactment of legislation
President not as representative as the Prime Minister
Allows one party to go unchecked
Instability
2. How is the Executive Chosen?-Parliamentary model vs. Presidential Model

10. 3. Geographic distribution of power
Unitary System
People
The Big Government makes policies for the local governments as well as handle national affairs: examples France, Britain, China, Egypt
Big Government
Local Government
Local Government

11. Geographic Distribution of Power
Confederal: The people establish the local governments which give to the national government (power that is extremely limited) (Articles of Confederation, Confederate States of America)
Federal: Power is constitutionally divided between levels of government, and their legitimacy comes from the people

12. How much government?
Want stuff
More gov’t
Have stuff
Less gov’t

13. Other ideologies
Marxism/Leninism: central control of economy-total equality and security
Socialism: government control of economy-economic equality, political liberty
Liberalism: active government to achieve economic and social equality-political liberty, economic security, equal opportunity
Conservative: protect capitalism, political liberty, economic liberty, social order
Libertarianism: least government is best government

14. Locke vs. Hobbes Issue Locke: Second Treatise on Government
Adapted from
Issue
Locke: Second Treatise on Government
Hobbes: Leviathan
Human nature and natural law
Man is by nature a social animal and they have an ability to know right and wrong and what is theirs and someone else’s
Man is not by nature a social animal, society only exists through the state and property only exists through the state
The State of Nature
Men were honest, and while insecure it was peaceful, good and pleasant
No society, man lives in continual fear of death; life is solitary, poor, short
The Social Contract
We give up our right to ourselves exact retribution for crimes in return for impartial justice
If you shut up and do as your told, you have right not to be killed
Violation of Social Contract
If a ruler seeks absolute power, he is in a state of war with citizens and they have a right to kill the ruler
No right to rebel; ruler’s define good and evil
Role of the State
The only role of the state is to ensure that justice is being done
Whatever the state does is just by definition