1. Principles of Government
Chapter 1
Section 1

2. Section 1 What Is the State?
A state is a political community in a precise territory.
A state has sovereignty meaning that its government makes and enforces its own laws without approval from any other authority.
A nation refers to a sizable group of people united by common race, language, custom or religion.

3. Section 1 What Is the State? (cont.)
Countries in which the territories of both the state and nation coincide are referred to as nation-states.

4. Section 1 Essential Features of a State
The four essential features of a state include:
population—the people
territory—established boundaries
sovereignty—supreme and absolute authority within its boundaries
government—central institution
United States Acquisitions

6. Section 1 Essential Features of a State (cont.)
States where people share a consensus, or agreement, about basic beliefs and values have the most stable governments.
Government is the institution through which a state:
maintains social order;
provides public services; and
enforces decisions that are binding on all its residents.

7. Section 1 Origins of the State
Scholars have constructed theories to explain the origins of state.
Evolutionary Theory
The state evolved from the family.
The head of the primitive family served as government authority.

8. Section 1 Origins of the State (cont.) Force Theory
The state was born of force, or the need to resist an enemy.
A state emerged when everyone in an area was brought under the authority of one person or group.
Divine Right Theory
Certain people are chosen by a god or gods to rule.

9. Section 1 Origins of the State (cont.)
Divine right describes European monarchs in the 1600s and 1700s who proclaimed their right to rule came from God alone.
Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes promoted the idea of a social contract in which people surrendered their freedom to the state, but in return they received order and security.

10. Section 1 Origins of the State (cont.)
John Locke believed that in a state of nature, men and women had certain natural rights:
life,
liberty, and
property.
Locke’s social contract was made between the people and a government that promised to preserve these natural rights.