Foundations of American Government

1. Foundations of American Government Principles of Government Chapter 1

2. Why It Matters “Government is essential to the existence of human beings in a civilized society. What any particular government is like and what that government does have an extraordinary impact on the lives of all people who live within its reach.”

3. What is Political Science? • A field in social science concerned with government and politics. • What does it have to do with my life? • Why is government important to me?

4. Government The institution (structure) through which society makes and enforces its public polices. Public Policies - basically, all of those things a government decides to do. A government must have power in order to make and carry out policy.

5. The Big Idea • A government enables a society to carry out its policies and protect its citizens from violence and injustice.

6. Without Government • What would your life be like? • Who would protect you? • Who would provide services? “Without government there would be continual fear and danger of violent death and life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (Thomas Hobbes).

7. Grab a Partner… • You have two minutes to think of as many services provided by the government (or functions of the government) as possible.

8. Politics A process by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that society; the means by which government is conducted.

9. Politics and Government • The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government is called…Politics Can you give an example of a person taking part in politics?

10. Politics is a Process, Government is an institution • Politics enables society to decide who will reap the benefits and who will pay the cost. • The means by which gov’t is conducted. • Government is the institution that helps society function. • Neither could exist without the other

11. Types of Governmental Power • Power is the ability to command or prevent action, the ability to achieve a desired end. • Every government has and exercises three basic kinds of power… • Legislative Power • Executive Power • Judicial Power

12. Constitution • The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government. • The powers of government are often outlined in a country’s constitution.

13. Dictatorship vs. Democracy In a _________, the ultimate responsibility for the exercise of power may be held by a single person or a small group of people. In a _________, the responsibility for the exercise of power rests with a majority of the people.

14. State – A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from a higher authority (Means the same as country). Nation/Country – Any sizeable group of people who are united by common bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes, religion. Principles of Government

15. How many states are there in the world today?? Approximately 200

16. Essential Features of a State • Population • Territory • Sovereignty • Government

17. Make-Up of a State • The people who make up a state may or may not be homogeneous. Note, the adjective homogeneous describes members of a group who share customs, a common language, and ethnic background.

18. Sovereignty • Supreme and absolute power within a country’s own territory; the only source of power. • Allows a state to determine its own form of government. • Is Georgia a sovereign state?

19. Theories of the Origin of the State • Evolutionary Theory • Force Theory • Divine Right Theory • Social Contract Theory • Thomas Hobbes • John Locke

20. Example Which two theories might be used to explain the origins of Japan, which has an emperor typically chosen from the same familial lines?

21. Social Contract Theory • Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau (17th and 18th Century) • In order to escape the brutal state of nature and unpleasant conditions, people agreed to a contract giving up certain rights to attain protection and safety. • Voluntary • Promoted popular sovereignty, limited government, and individual rights • Very important in shaping the American governmental system

22. The Purposes of Government • Form a more perfect Union • Establish Justice • What does “Justice” mean? • Insure domestic tranquility • Provide for the Common Defense • Promote the General Welfare • Secure the Blessings of Liberty (Individual rights and personal freedoms)

23. John Locke: Second Treatise of Government • Without government, people live in a state of complete freedom. • Right to life, liberty, and property • Why would the people give up some of their freedom and liberties??? • Consent of the governed

24. Forms of Government • Why It Matters: • Because whatever its form, government has an impact on nearly every moment and nearly every aspect of your life.

25. Forms of Government Classifying Governments • Who can participate? [To many, this is the most important] • Geographic distribution • Relationship between Executive and Legislature

26. Democracy Supreme political authority rests with the people; people hold sovereign power Consent of the governed “government of the people, by the people, for the people” The people are the only source for any and all of government’s powers. Ex. United States Dictatorship Those who rule are not held responsible to the will of the people Oldest form of government Authoritarian – those in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority over the people Many are totalitarian – control all aspects of human affairs Ex. People’s Republic of China Who Can Participate?

27. Democracy • A system of government in which rule is by the people. • Direct Democracy • Representative Democracy / Republic

28. Types of Dictatorships Autocracy • A government in which a single person holds unlimited political power. • Totalitarian Dictatorship • Absolute Monarchy • Constitutional Monarchy Oligarchy • A government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite.

29. Examples • Fascist Italy [1922-1943] / Mussolini • Nazi Germany [1933-1945] / Hitler • Soviet Union [1917-1980’s] / Stalin • People’s Republic of China [1949-present]

30. Countries have developed differently over time causing different types of governments to form. Unitary System Ex. Great Britain Federal System Ex. United States Government Systems / Geographic Distribution

31. Confederation • An alliance of independent states • Typically have limited powers in fields such as foreign affairs or defense • This type of government makes it possible for several States to cooperate in matters of common concern, while at the same time retaining their separate identities.

32. Presidential Separation of Powers / two separate but co-equal branches Each branch has powers that can block the actions of the other U.S. is leading example / mostly found in Western Hemisphere Parliamentary The executive is a part of the legislature, or the parliament, and is subject to its direct control. Most governments in the world are parliamentary, not presidential Relationship between Executive and Legislative Branches *Parliamentary avoids deadlock between executive and legislature, but does not have the same separation of powers.

33. The Big Idea • The United States is a democracy with a federal and presidential system of government.

34. Basic Concepts of Democracy • Worth of the Individual • Equality of All Persons • Majority Rule, Minority Rights • Necessity of Compromise • Individual Freedom Democracy exist in America b/c we believe in it’s basic concepts.

35. The Success of Democracy • Democratic government is more likely to succeed in countries which to some degree meet five general criteria. • Active citizen participation • A favorable economy • Widespread education • Strong civil society • A social consensus

36. Free Enterprise / Capitalism • Private ownership of capital goods • Investments made by private decisions, not by government directives / Individual Initiative • Success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace / Profits and Competition

37. Supply and Demand • Free Enterprise system does not rely on the government to decide what items are produced, how much is produced, or how much items sell for. Law of Supply and Demand When supplies and goods become plentiful, prices drop. When supplies become scarce, prices rise.

38. Mixed Economy • Type of economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion. Government’s Purposes • To protect the public • To preserve private enterprise

39. Democracy and the Internet • More than 180 million Americans have internet access. • Can be a good tool to insure an informed population, but can also be inaccurate or biased.