2. An Introduction to Government

3. ??? What IS Government??? Government = an institution through which society makes and enforces laws

4. HUMAN NATURE If people are naturally competitive, what do we need government to do? If people are naturally cooperative, what do we need government to do? What is the best type of Gov’t?

5. TYPES OF GOVERNMENT 1) Autocracy Type of government in which ONE PERSON has TOTAL POWER. When I say, “Jump,” you say, “How High?”

6. Types of Autocracies Monarchy: gov’t led by one hereditary ruler (a Monarch) Ex: King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia Dictatorship: gov’t led by one ruler who takes power by force (a Dictator) Ex: Kim Jong-Il/N. Korea Hu Jintao/China

7. Adolf Hitler (leader of Germany 1932-1945) Alfred the Great (ruled England 871-899)

8. 2) Democracy A form of gov’t in which ALL CITIZENS hold TOTAL POWER. Demos=people Kratos=rule

9. Two Types of Democracies a)Direct Democracy: all citizens vote on every decision for the state (majority rules) ex. Ancient Greece/Athens b) Republic (a.k.a. Indirect Democracy): citizens vote for leaders who make decisions for the state ex. United States

10. 3) Constitutional Monarchy A form of government in which a monarch shares power with elected representatives King/Queen: the monarch holds executive power (enforces the laws) Parliament: the elected representatives hold legislative power (make the laws) Example: United Kingdom (Britain)

11. OK, Let’s Review… AUTOCRACYDEMOCRACY CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

12. What Do Gov’ts Do??? GOVERNMENTS: THEY RULE STATES State: a group of people that live in a defined territory who organize their power and are not ruled by a higher authority. Another word for “country”; U.S. states do not fit this definition

13. 1)Population: must have people 2)Territory: land w/ boundaries 3)Sovereignty: supreme/absolute power over own territory 4)Government: political organization to make and enforce rules for society 4 Characteristics of a State

14. HOW DID GOV’TS GET STARTED? Four Theories on the Origin of Gov’t: 1) Force Theory: one person/group took over an area and its people.

15. 2) Evolution Theory The state developed out of the family unit. Families joined to form clans. Clans joined to form tribes. Tribes joined to form states.

16. 3) Divine Right Theory An old-timey belief States created by God. God gave “Divine Right” to rule the state to a certain family. People should obey the royal family as they would God.

17. 4) Social Contract Theory Humans agreed to join forces.  People gave up total freedom for the safety and benefits of a gov’t.  Good part of gov’t?  Bad part of gov’t?