1. An Introduction to Government

2. What is Freedom? Is freedom an absolute?
Do we have to give up freedom to obtain or have freedom?
What do you think Freedom is?
Write a 7-10 sentence paragraph explaining what freedom is to you.

3. Why do we have Governments?
To form Unions
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide a Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessing of Liberty
Would someone please volunteer to go and read the Preamble of the Constitution

4. Theories on Gov’t
Divine Right: God grants authority to rule to Royalty.
Social Contract Theory: Developed by John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes.
It is a Gov't that is created out of necessity by a voluntary act of free people.
It serves to the will of the people that are the source of political power and can give or take it away as they choose.

5. Forms of Government Unitary Gov’t: one single central agency
Federal Gov’t: Central and Local Gov’t
Confederate Gov’t: An alliance of independent states
Presidential Gov’t: Separation of powers between Executive and Legislative branches

6. Forms of Government Cont.
Parliamentary Gov’t: Executive branch headed by Prime Minister, chosen by Legislative body out of the body.
Dictatorship Gov’t: Those who are in power are not held responsible by the people.

7. What’s all the talk about…really?
Democracy
What’s all the talk about…really?

8. Democracy Supreme political authority rests with the people
People hold sovereign power
Gov’t run by the consent of the people
Two forms of Democracy
Direct: People’s will is translated into public policy
Representative: Small groups chosen by the people to represent their wants and needs.
This is called Gov’t with the consent of the governed

9. Basic Concepts of Democracy in the United States
A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person
A respect for the equality of all persons
A faith in majority rule and an insistence up on minority rights
An acceptance of the necessity of compromise
An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom

10. Final Thoughts on Democracy
Democracy is not a perfect system
Its more of less a system of trial and error and learning from those errors