1. The Study of Government
Aristotle was one of the first to study government.
It was from Greece and Rome that we get many government terms
- i.e. Politic, democracy, republic 1

2. The State
The term state and country mean the same thing
State: a political community that occupies a defined territory, has an organized gov't that makes and enforce laws free from any higher authority
State, what does it mean to you? 2

3. The State Why do we think of states the way we do?
The 13 original colonies, when separating from Britain, considered themselves individual countries
The term United States means “united countries”
Remains a term for political units in the U.S.

4. The State
Nation: any sizable group of people that are united by common bonds
-I.E. race, language, custom, religion etc.
Usually the boundaries of a nation are the same as a state/country
-This is where we get the reference of the nation-state
Nations exists with in the boundaries of a state/country
- i.e. Palestine, French speaking Canadians, Native Americans, areas in African, etc

5. Features of the State
There are four elements that a state consists of:
- population, territory, sovereignty, and government

6. Population
The basic element of the state: the group that inhabit an area
Stable populations have a consensus / general beliefs

7. Territory The area inside the est. boundaries of a state
This can result in diplomatic tensions or war
A state's boundaries can change over time

8. Sovereignty A key characteristic of a state
A state has absolute authority within its territorial boundaries
- make laws, shape foreign policy, etc.
In theory, no sovereign state can tell another what to do
In practice, economically and militarily stronger nations have more power

9. Government Every state has some type of government
Institution that maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces the polices that people are to live by

10. Origins of the State
Where did the idea of the state or government come from?
- There are many theories, but no clear answer.

11. The Theories There are four main theories we will look at…
1. Evolutionary Theory
2. Force Theory
3. Divine Right Theory
4. Social Contract Theory

12. Evolutionary Theory Believe the state emerged from the family
The family head acted as its govt
- Could be hundreds of people w/t extended family
Based on the Bible’s Old Testament, referring to Abraham’s family

13. Force Theory
Early civilizations people built walled cities and leaders had soldiers who fought wars
Force theory says gov’t emerged when one person/ group took control by use of power

14. Divine Right Theory Idea that the gods chose the rulers: Divine Right
1400’s, monarchs said their right to rule came from God
People thought God made the state and rulers
Subjects did not oppose because it would be treason and sin

15. Social Contract Theory
In the 1600’s the idea of divine right was questioned
Hobbes, an English philosopher, thought that the state was a social contract
Social contract means by agreement, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order
In turn, the state protects the citizens and the agreement cannot be broken

16. Social Contract Theory
John Locke, another English philosopher, went further with social contract
He felt men were naturally endowed with the right to life, liberty and property (natural rights)
To preserve their rights that contract power to the gov’t, who protects them
Locke said if the gov’t didn’t protect them, or infringed on them, citizens could break the agreement
About a century later, the American colonies embraced the idea of natural rights and broke from England and King George III

17. Social Contract Theory

18. Purpose of Government 1. Maintain social order
2. Provide public services
3. Provide national security / common defense
4. Help regulate the economic system

19. Purposes of Government
Gov’ts gain power through two means, legitimate or coercive
Power given through consent of the people and citizens willing to obey the gov’t
Coercive force is used in the second method to gain power
- use police, judicial system, military, fines, or imprisonment to make people obey

20. Maintaining Social Order
Based on social contract, govt is needed to for stability
Conflict is part of living in groups, and the govt provides methods to resolve / prevent
Government makes laws, enforcement, and est. courts
Conflict is restricted because govt limits what people can do (law and order)

22. Providing Public Services
Gov’t provides services individuals cannot do
- I.E. Build / maintain roads, sewers
Gov’t promotes public safety and health
- I.E. Food quality standards, health codes, driver's test

23. National Security Gov’t is to protect its people against attack
This has become increasingly difficult
- nukes, satellites, terrorism
Govt handles relations with other states
- treaties, trade agreements, informal relations

24. Economic Decisions
Countries vary in the economic opportunities they can provide
No state can provide every desire or need
Material scarcity and economic gap are main sources of conflict
Gov'ts try and reduce these causes to prevent civil unrest
Gov'ts also intervene in other nation's economic affairs
- provide aid, embargoes
Gov'ts pass laws regulating econ environment
- provide a currency, distribute benefits/subsidies, tax breaks
Gov'ts goals, stimulate growth, control inflation, promote trade, and regulate uses of natural resources

26. Forming Government
Gov’ts of each nation are unique based on the country’s development
Gov’ts can be organized in various ways
Large countries have multiple levels to government
IE: National, State, City, Town, etc.

27. Government Systems
The basic ways national governments interact with lower levels
Unitary System
Federal System
Confederacy

28. Unitary System All major powers belong to the central gov’t
Multiple levels can exist but are created by central gov’t
Lower levels have limited power
IE: Britain, France, Italy

29. Confederacy
political union: an alliance of people, states, or parties for a common purpose
Has a weak federal gov’t and strong state govts
- 13 Colonies, Confederate States of American

30. Federal System Powers are divided between gov’t levels
Each level has sovereignty in some area
U.S. developed this system with 13 colonies after confederate failed

31. Constitutions A plan for gov’t that serves several functions
Sets forth ideals that citizens share and believe
Establishes gov’t structure and defines gov’ts powers and duties
Provides the supreme law of the land

32. Constitutions Can be written or unwritten
U.S. has oldest written constitution
All gov’ts have a constitution or plan for their gov’t
A constitutional gov’t is one that clear limits are set on the gov’ts powers (Limited Gov’t)
If a nation has a constitution, it does not mean they’re constitutional gov’ts

33. Constitutions Can’t include every single law or custom
They are incomplete guides
Can’t include every single law or custom
Not all gov’ts follow the rules set forth by their constitution
IE: China

34. Constitutions A statement of the goals the gov’t should strive for
These goals are called the preamble

35. U.S. Preamble
“We the people of the United States, In Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Preamble to the Constitution, 1787

36. Constitutions The framework of gov’t Sets up parts of gov’t
Describes relationship between gov’t levels
Sets rules for amending
Highest law in the land
The interpretation and application of the Constitution is known as constitutional law

37. Politics and Government
Politics is the effort to influence and control gov’t
People take part in politics because they know it can influence their life
People make demands on gov’t through groups and organizations
Politics provides a way to manage societal conflicts

38. Governing Today The world is complex, thus so is gov’t
Major inequalities exist between states that are industrialized or developing
Nations are becoming more interdependent
Nations have economic, political, and social ties

39. Governing Today
Organizations like the E.U., N.A.F.T.A., and the U.N. link nations together
Non-state international groups as well
Political movements (PLO), Multi-national corporations (BP), International organizations

40. Types of Governments
Governments generally fall into one of three classification.
1. Autocracy
2. Oligarchy
3. Democracy

41. Autocracy
In an autocracy power of rule are in the hands of an individual.
Totalitarian dictatorship and absolute monarchs are some examples.
In a dictatorship an individual and their group rule.
A monarchy has a king, queen, or emperor rule.

42. Oligarchy
Oligarchy refers to any government where a small group holds power.
The groups power comes from wealth, military power, social or religious position.

43. Democracy Democracy is any gov't where rule is by the people.
-Direct democracy, people vote directly on issues.
-Representative democracy, people elect representatives to make decisions.
A republic fits under democracy, and voters hold sovereign power.

44. Characteristics of Democracy
Individual liberty exists, so individuals have equal opportunity to pursue their talents.
Majority rule prompts government action while minority rights are still protected.
Free elections, one person one vote, and free expression of views.
Political Parties are present and are groups that have common interest, and promote candidates

45. Democracy
Democracy can be hard to maintain, and general contains five elements.
Citizen participation is key. Citizens need to be willing take part in civic life.
A strong economy with a strong middle class, and more economic autonomy(free enterprise), is important.
Having an educated public.
Strong civil society, where a variety of groups can access gov't to share views / opinions.
A social consensus, where people adherer to similar values, allows for democracy to occur.

46. Economics
Economics: the study of human efforts to satisfy needs and wants through limited resources
Employment, wages, taxes, spending, production, and distribution are important concepts
Resources: natural resources land, minerals, water; human factors- skill, knowledge, etc.

47. The Role of Economic
Gov’ts around the world operate in different economic systems, but all make three major choices:
1. What and how much should be produced?
2. How goods and services should be produced?
3. Who gets these goods and services?
Each major system answers them differently

48. Capitalism At one end of the economic spectrum
Freedom of choices, individual incentives for workers, investors, consumers,& encourages enterprise
Gov’t allows free individual choice to guide economic production/decisions (free market)
True Capitalism’s five elements
1. Private ownership of property and resources
2. Free enterprise
3. Business competition
4. Freedom of choice
5. possibility of profit

49. Capitalism
Adam Smith in 1776, wrote The Wealth of Nations, applied idea of laissez-faire
Laissez- faire means let alone, hands off
Gov’t should create an environment for free market, otherwise, stay out of economy

50. Capitalism No nation is purely capitalist
U.S. leading example of a capitalist nation & gov’t has a role
Gov’ts role has increased- largest consumer of goods, regulations on food/drug production, labor management, regulations on pollution and banking
Gov’t also provides social security, welfare, unemployment, etc.
Considered a mixed-economy where gov’t makes economic decisions but free and fair public interest remains

51. Socialism
Gov’t owns basic means of production and distributes/ controls wages, products, and services
Socialism has three goals:
Distribute wealth and economic opportunity equally
Society controls economic decisions through gov’t
Public (gov’t) ownership of most land and production means

52. Socialism
Domestic Socialism :socialism trying to operate with a democratic gov’t
Citizens have basic rights and input by voting
Gov’t still owns means of production and controls economic decisions
Opponents feel this reduces initiative, increases taxes and gov’t size, and can lead to dictatorship

53. Communism Introduced by a German thinker, Karl Marx
A socialist who supported violent revolution
Felt capitalism would collapse and presented ideas in the Communist Manifesto(1848) and Das Kapital (1867)
He divided industrialized society into two groups
-Bourgeoisie: capitalists, owners of production
-Proletariat: workers, producers of the goods
Felt that the capitalist ruling class forced others to work at subsistence levels
Marx saw human history as a class struggle and the capitalist would control all wealth
He felt that workers would rise in revolution to take control of all means

54. Communism
With revolt, communism would emerge with a single class and property held commonly
No need for gov’t
In communist nations today all economic decisions done by gov’t (command economy)
The gov’t owns everything economically and all mass communication

55. Communism Communist nations have developed own styles
No economic freedom exists, gov’t decides what and how much is produced
No political freedom exists
Adequate living standards are not met
Some nations are trying to balance change to prevent revolt