What is government?

What is government? Every person must write a word or phrase on the

board.

Get out a half sheet and answer the following questions:

Based on your own thoughts and maybe combining what your peers wrote on the board, what is a government?

We know governments exist, but are they essential?◦Provide 2 reasons why they are and 2

reasons why they may not be

Learning Targets for the day

I can ◦define government and the basic powers

every government holds◦describe the four defining characteristics of

the state◦identify four theories that attempt to explain

the origin of the state◦understand the purpose of government in the

United States and other countries

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.◦What are public policies?

Public Policies

All of the things a government decides to do◦Therefore, what types of issues does government have to deal with?

Rank the above in order of importance to you (9 = most important)

TaxationDefenseEducationCrimeHealth careThe environmentCivil rightsWorker rightsWelfare

Tackling these issues is a part of the political game. Politics◦“Man is by nature a political animal.” -Aristotle

◦Is politics a bad word?

So where does all of this (government, public policy, politics) take place?

The State

PopulationTerritorySovereigntyGovernment

How did the state come about?

Major Political Ideas

The Force TheoryThe Evolutionary TheoryThe Divine Right TheoryThe Social Contract Theory

Force Theory

One person or a group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or group’s rule.

Evolutionary Theory

The state was born naturally out of the family unit concept. One person was the head of a household (little government), then a network of related families formed clans (a little bigger government), then the clan became a tribe (much larger government), then the tribe took to agriculture and tied itself to the land. Then the state was born.

Divine Right Theory

People were bound to obey the ruler as proscribed by sacred religious beliefs, and then heredity.

Social Contract Theory

Thomas Hobbes◦“In the state of nature profit is the

measure of right.”John Locke

◦“Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.”

Jean Jacques Rousseau◦“Man is born free, and everywhere he is

in chains.”

Purpose of Government (at least ours- What does each really mean? Does America accomplish these?)

Form a More Perfect UnionEstablish JusticeInsure Domestic TranquilityProvide for the Common DefensePromote the General WelfareSecure the Blessing of Liberty

Read Section 1: Government and the State◦Have them answer the two questions

Forms of Government

I can◦Classify governments according to three sets of

characteristics◦Define systems of government based on who

can participate◦Identify different ways that power can be

distributed, geographically, within a state◦Describe a government by how power is

distributed between the executive branch and legislative branch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOOTKA0aGI0&feature=player_embedded

Who Can Participate?

DemocracyAutocracy

◦DictatorshipOligarchy

Current Autocrats

What an oligarchy might look like.

Geographic Distribution of Power

UnitaryFederalConfederate

Relationship Between Legislative and Execute Branches

Presidential SystemParliamentary System

What are the differences? Which is better?

Think-pair-share the three views of the presidency.

Basic Concepts of Democracy

I can◦Understand the foundations of

democracy◦Analyze the connections between

democracy and the free enterprise system

◦Identify the role of the Internet in a democracy

What does this image say about democracy? Do you agree?

Basic Notions of Democracy

A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person

A respect for the equality of all personsA faith in majority rule and an insistence

upon minority rightsAn acceptance of the necessity of

compromiseAn insistence upon the widest possible

degree of individual freedom

What Hart Adds to This Definition

Control over government decision about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials

Elected officials are chosen in frequent and fairly conducted elections

Practically all adults have the right to vote Practically all adults have the right to run for elective office Citizens should have the rights to express themselves

without danger of severe punishment Citizens have a right to seek out alternative sources of

information Citizens have the right to form relatively independent

associations or organizations Popularly elected officials cannot be overridden by unelected

officials The polity must be self-governing

What does this say about democracy? Do you agree? Solutions?