1. Government and the People
Ch. 1 Sec. 3

2. What is a government?
A government is the ruling authority for a community, or society.
Thomas Hobbes, English political thinker, said in the 1600’s that life without government would be:
“solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”

3. The 4 Functions of Gov’t:
1. Keep order
Make and enforce/carry out laws (most important job of gov’t!)
Establish court systems
2. Provide Security
The armed forces
Civilian police forces

4. The 4 Functions of Gov’t:
3. Provide Services
Libraries, police, fire, streets, hospitals
Schools, government inspectors, housing

5. The 4 Functions of Gov’t:
4. Guide the Community
Formulate public policy: course of government action to achieve community goals ie: EOC’s, drivers education
Create a budget: plan for collecting and spending money

6. 3 Levels of Government…
1. National/ Federal/ Central Government (Washington, DC)
Has the highest level of authority
Provides the basic framework for citizenship

7. 3 Levels of Government… 2. State Government (Raleigh, NC)
Decides matters and makes laws for the people in that state
3. Local Government (Catawba County, Newton city, Hickory city)
Is the level of government closest to the people

8. State and local governments cannot take actions that go against the laws and authority of the national government

9. Types of Government
Main idea: The people are the ultimate rulers of democratic countries, while in totalitarian states, a single person (dictator, absolute monarch) or small group (*oligarchy*) holds all the power.

10. Types of Democracies… Direct Democracy :
All citizens meet, discuss, and vote firsthand….not practical today
Ex: ancient Greece (2,500 years ago)

11. Types of Democracies… Representative Democracy :
Citizens choose a group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf
Ex: United States
*we are the oldest representative democracy in the world

12. Types of Democracies… Republic :
Same thing as a representative democracy!
You say this every morning at FTF

13. Types of Democracies… Constitutional Monarchy :
Government with a hereditary ruler who has their power limited by the country’s constitution
Ex: Great Britain- Queen
Japan- emperor

14. Democratic Government
Abe Lincoln described our democracy as a “government of the people, by the people, for the people”

15. He meant that…
The power of the government comes from the citizens (consent of the governed)
Americans themselves, through their elected representatives, run their government (popular sovereignty)
The purpose of the government is to make the U.S. a better place for those who live here

16. Principles of American Democracy
Rule of Law
All people, including leaders, are bound by the law
Limited Government
Government may only do those things that the people have given it the power to do

17. Principles of American Democracy
Consent of the Governed
American citizens are the source of all government power
Majority rule: citizens will abide by what most people want as determined by elections
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French Philosopher, gave us the idea of majority rule

18. Principles of American Democracy
Individual Rights
Individual rights are protected by government
Ex: the Bill of Rights (Amendments #1-10)

19. Principles of American Democracy
Representative Government
People elect government leaders to make the laws and govern on their behalf
Elections must be free, fair, and competitive
“One person, one vote” (14th amendment)

20. Principles of American Democracy
Representative Government cont…
The legal requirements for voting must be kept to a minimum
Citizens may vote freely on a secret ballot

21. Authoritarian Government
In an authoritarian form of government, power is held by an individual or a group not accountable to the people
**Oligarchy: rule by a few (this will be on the first benchmark test!)

22. Types of Authoritarian Governments
Absolute Monarchy
Ruled by a monarch who had unlimited/ unrestricted authority to rule as they wished
Not accountable to the people
Monarchs inherit their power
Ex: king of Saudi Arabia, England until the 1600’s

23. Types of Authoritarian Governments
Dictatorships
Ruled by a dictator who exercises complete control over the state
Dictators usually take power by force
Rely on police or military to keep power
Tamper with or refuse elections
Limit freedom of speech, assembly, press
Ex: Cuba and Fidel Castro since 1959

24. Types of Authoritarian Governments
Totalitarianism
In a totalitarian state, the government’s control extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives
They ban political opposition, regulate industry, suppress individual freedom, control the media
Ex: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, China today

25. DO and turn in… P. 28-29 #1-12 *Note visual summary at end of chapter
Page guide on bottom of page #29

26. Writing
Which of the 4 main functions of government do you think is most important and why?
Why are dictatorships able to exist in modern societies?