1. What is Government? Government: –The institution through Public Policies: –All of those –Examples: imposing an income tax, setting a minimum wage, maintaining a military, protecting the environment

2. The State State: –A body of people, living in a defined territory, –Characteristics of the State: Population, territory,

3. The Social Contract/Natural Rights Philosophies The Social Contract Argues: –The state arose out of a voluntary act of free people –The state only exists to serve the people

4. What is the purpose of government? According to Magruder:

5. Geographic Distribution of Power Unitary government  all powers held –Most governments in the world are unitary –All laws are Federal government  powers of government are divided between a –Both levels of government act directly

6. Presidential government  separation of power –Both are –The chief executive is chosen independently –Each branch has powers and Presidential Government

7. Parliamentary Government Parliamentary government  the executive and The prime minister is the leader of the Parliamentary systems do not face the prolonged

8. Dictatorship  this exists where those who rule are Direct democracy  the will of the people is translated into Representative democracy  a small group is chosen Who gets to participate?