1. Chapter 1

2.  Government is the institution through which society creates and enforces public policy.  What is Public Policy?  Laws  Characteristics of a state  Population Territory Sovereignty Government

3.  Four Theories about the origin of the State  Force Theory – the strongest took over  Evolutionary Theory – state evolved from the family  Divine Right Theory – born to rule  Social Contract Theory – people got together and asked someone to run things for them.

4.  Purpose of the U.S. Government…  To serve the citizens!!!!!

5.  Government Classifications  Geographic – involves the distribution of power between the branches and levels of government  Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches  Participation – how many people are allowed to participate in the government?

6.  Geographic Distribution of Power  Unitary Government – all powers are held by a single central agency  British Parliament

7.  Federal Government – all powers are divided between the central/national government and the local government  United States of America  Washington D.C.Atlanta, Georgia

8.  Confederation – an alliance of independent states  U.S.A. Under the Confederate States of America Articles of Confederation

9.  Relationship between the executive and legislative branches  Presidential Government – the president/executive is NOT a member of the congress/legislature Voters Elect President Legislature/Congress

10.  Parliamentary Government – the voters elect the members of parliament who then select the executive/prime minister. The executive/prime minister IS a member of Parliament. Voters ElectMembers of Parliament Elec t Executive/Prime Minister

11.  Participation – the number of people who actually get to take part in the government.  Dictatorship – one person or a small group of people.  Democracy – all qualified voters rule.

12.  U.S. Concepts of Democracy  Worth of Everyone  Equality of Everyone  Majority rule with minority rights  Compromise  Freedom without anarchy  “My rights end where the other person’s nose begins” Oliver Wendell Holmes