A short guide to political philosophies

“Politics for Dummies”

Key words and ideas

• State• Sovereign• Constitution• Divine right• Absolutism• Evolution• Social contract• Preamble• Natural Rights• Popular sovereignty

Government and the State

• Q: What is government?• A: institutions through which a country or society

makes and enforces policy.• Q: Why do people need governments?• A: protection, maintain public order, conflict

resolution, ensure economic stability, provides basic public services.

• Q: What are the different parts of government?• A: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

Theories of Government

Evolution Theory-

Parental rule transforms into tribal rule where the strongest naturally become leaders.

Force Theory-Base on conquest and subjugation. Weaker groups are forced to submit to stronger ones.

Divine Rights Theory-

God selects the rulers usually absolute monarchy. Faith in an interpersonal God is required

We give up our right to ourselves exact retribution for crimes in return for impartial justice backed by overwhelming force. We retain the right to life and liberty, and gain the right to just, impartial protection of our property .

Social Contract-

The State of Nature

Who are the important Enlightenment philosophers?

According to the philosophers what was the state of nature like?

What are nature’s laws?

What is the social contract?

According to the Social Contract Theory who is the source of political power?

What does Locke say is the real reason for governments? (See primary source on page 11)

The Preamble to the United States Constitution

• “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. “

Rousseau• The Social Contract• The General Will• Sovereignty should be in the hands

of the people • The government is charged with

implementing and enforcing the general will and is composed of a smaller group of citizens, known as magistrates.

• Rousseau believed in direct representation rather than a republic

Montesquieu

• He was a French political thinker who lived during the Enlightenment. He is famous for his theory of separation of powers

• He said that each branch of government should have some powers and that each should also be a check to the other branches power.

John Locke• Locke is perhaps the most influential

of all the Enlightenment political philosophers

• Two Treatises on Government

• In a natural state all people were equal and independent, and none had a right to harm another’s “life, liberty, or property.”

• Locke like Montesquieu also advocated governmental checks and balances and believed that revolution is not only a right but an obligation in some circumstances

Locke cont.

Violation of the social contract:

If a ruler seeks absolute power, if he acts both as judge and participant in disputes, he puts himself in a state of war with his subjects and we have the right and the duty to kill such rulers and their servants.

Role of the State:

The only important role of the state is to ensure that justice is seen to be done

Voltaire

• Deist who criticized the major institutions of the day like the French monarchy and the Catholic Church

• Freedom of speech• Freedom of religion• Right to a fair trial• Hated wars and prisons• Thought Christianity had become too

filled with superstitions• Was not an atheist rather he said

there was no need for faith since the existence of God was proven by reason.

Principals of Government

• Elites: People who hold power in society• Marxist Ideology: The capitalist owners have the power

and government a tool to control the masses. (proletariat and bourgeoisie)

• Power elite: Business owners and heads of corporations, top military generals and government officials

• Bureaucrats: government officials who work behind the scenes usually unanswerable to the public

• Pluralist society: many have the chance to influence public policy

Types of Governments

• Democracy• Republican• Constitutional

Monarchy• Dictatorship• Oligarchy• Aristocracy• Absolute

Monarchy• Theocracy• One Party Rule

Geographic Distribution of Power

• Unitarian Government: Power all centrally located. Eg. Great Britain

• Federal System: Power divided between a central and several state and or local governments Eg. United States

• Confederation: A loose alliance among several nations or states brought together for common interests such as defense and economic prosperity. Eg. CSA and Delian League

Legislative and Executive Branches of Government

B. Presidential

*Legislative and executive powers combined Chief Executive is the Prime Minister* Member of Legislature* Leader of Majority Party•Chosen by Party •No Fixed Term

* Separates Legislative & Executive * President * Checks and Balances * Popular Vote

* Fixed term

A. Parliamentary

What is a Republican form of Government?

• The Roman Republic• The need for civic

virtue and a robust citizenry

• Balanced powers• A Mixed Constitution• The Common Welfare• Madisonian

Republicanism (Representative Democracy)

The English Example

• Feudal Government• Magna Carta• Parliament• Writ of Habeus Corpus• Petition of Right• Toleration Act• Bill of Rights• Constitutional Monarchy

Section 3 Basic Concepts of Democracy

“Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm” James Madison The American form of democracy is based on certain principals

1. A republic is superior to a democracy 2. Individual rights are inherited and must be protected3. People are equal before the law4. Majority rules while still protecting and respecting the rights of the minority.

Eg. Bill of Rights5. Separation of Powers and a system of Checks and Balances6. Constitutionalism (A nation of laws)a. No man is above the law b. Due process for all citizens7. Government should be limited8. A government gets its power from the consent of the governed and all are

subject to the laws of nature and nature’s God.9. Free market capitalism with some government regulation and promotion

sometimes called a mixed economy10. Basic two party system