1. An introduction to Gov...

2.  State defined: autonomous political unit (commonly “country”)  Essential Features (4) ◦ Population ◦ Territory ◦ Sovereignty ◦ Government  Recent states?

3.  Evolution  Force  Divine Right  *Social Contract*

4.  Maintain Social Order  Provide Public Services  National Defense  Make Economic Decisions Examples???

5.  Unitary v. Federal  Autocracy/Oligarchy/Democracy ◦ Autocracy – Rule by one ◦ Oligarchy – Rule by a small group ◦ Democracy – Rule by “the people”

6.  Harold D. Lasswell: “who gets what, when, and how?”  Effort to control policy Linkage Institutions Policy Agenda Policymaking Institutions PolicyPeople 1.What matters to people? 2.Parties, Media, Interest Groups – Access 3.Issues that achieve prominence 4.The Gov – Congress, courts, etc. 5.Decisions made/enacted 6.Laws impact the people – how do we react?

7.  “Movements”  Multi-national Corporations  International Organizations Examples???

8. Democracy Individual Liberty Free Elections Competition Majority Rule w/ Minority Rights

9. Competition Freedom of Choice Private Ownership Free Enterprise Possibility of Profits Capitalism