1. Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

2. The Political State The Basis of Government Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

3. A State  State:  Identifies a political community that occupies a definite territory & has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority  According to this is Nevada a state?  The City of Reno?  Reno High School? Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

4. A Nation  A Nation:  Any sizeable group of people who are united by a common bond of race, language, customs, traditions, and sometimes religion  According to this is Nevada a nation?  The City of Reno?  Reno High School?  Mr. Clark’s classroom?  Nation-State  Both a state and a nation  Obviously  The United States is a nation-state  The Vatican in Rome Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

5. 4 Major Features of a State  1. Population  Must have people in order to have a state  The direction, stability, political organization and social consensus of a population are important qualities for survival of a state  A growing population as well as a population that is mobile will contribute to the success of a population Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

6. Territory  2. Territory:  A state has an established boundary  How are boundaries established?  In what ways can boundaries get bigger?  Purchase  Negotiation  War  Volcano!?!?!?! Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

7. Sovereignty  3. Sovereignty:  The state has supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries  Complete independence, complete power to make laws, to shape foreign policy, and to determine its own course of action  In theory a state has no right to interfere with the international affairs of another sovereign state Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

8. And finally, Government  4. Government:  Is the institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public service, and enforce decisions that are binding on all people living in the state.  Most larger governments have several levels of government  State, County, City, Town, Village, etc Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government

9. Non-State International Groups  Groups that do not fall under one of the 4 features of a state  1. Political Movements  Palestinian Liberation Organization  Hezbollah  2. Multinational Corporations  Wal-Mart (The Death of America)  Nike  3. International Organizations  United Nations  Amnesty International  Little League Unit 1:What are the foundations of US Government