Foundation of American Foundation of American GovernmentGovernment

Ch.1 – SSCG 1Ch.1 – SSCG 1

SSCG 19SSCG 19

What is government? Which form of What is government? Which form of government is best? Why did government government is best? Why did government originate? What are the functions of originate? What are the functions of government?government?

The Greek philosopher The Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the first to Aristotle was one of the first to study government.study government.

He studied the He studied the polispolis, a state , a state consisting of a city and the consisting of a city and the surrounding countryside, of the surrounding countryside, of the ancient Greeks.ancient Greeks.

The Greeks gave us many The Greeks gave us many terms and concepts of terms and concepts of government such as government such as politics, politics, democracy, democracy, andand republic. republic.

The word The word statestate comes comes from the Latin word stare from the Latin word stare and means “to stand.”and means “to stand.”

AA state state is a political is a political community that occupies community that occupies a definite territory and a definite territory and has an organized has an organized government with the government with the power to make and power to make and enforce laws without enforce laws without approval from any higher approval from any higher authorityauthority..

The term The term nationnation commonly refers to an commonly refers to an independent state or independent state or country.country.

A nation is a group of A nation is a group of people united by bonds of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, race, language, custom, tradition, and, sometimes, tradition, and, sometimes, religion.religion.

A A nation-state nation-state is a is a country in which the country in which the of both the nation and of both the nation and the state coincide.the state coincide.

The U.S.A is an The U.S.A is an example of a nation-example of a nation-state. France is also state. France is also an example.an example.

States share four essential features : population, States share four essential features : population, territory, sovereignty, and government .territory, sovereignty, and government .

People are needed to People are needed to form a state. form a state.

Population affects Population affects stability of a state.stability of a state.

States where people States where people share a general political share a general political and social and social consensus, consensus, oror agreement, have the agreement, have the most stable governments.most stable governments.

Mobility of people affects Mobility of people affects political power.political power.

What are the territorial What are the territorial boundaries of the U.S. ?boundaries of the U.S. ?

The U.S. has gained land The U.S. has gained land through treaties, war, and through treaties, war, and purchasing it.purchasing it.

The most notable purchases: The most notable purchases: Louisiana Purchase, the Louisiana Purchase, the Gadsden Purchase, and Gadsden Purchase, and Alaska.Alaska.

The most notable treaties: The most notable treaties: Original 13 colonies, Territory Original 13 colonies, Territory in 1790, Texas, the Mexican in 1790, Texas, the Mexican Cession, and the Treaty of Cession, and the Treaty of Paris (1898).Paris (1898).

Political Political sovereignty sovereignty means means that the state has the supreme that the state has the supreme and absolute authority within and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries.its territorial boundaries.

Theoretically, each state is Theoretically, each state is equal in legal rights and duties.equal in legal rights and duties.

In practice, states with greater In practice, states with greater economic strength and military economic strength and military capabilities have more power capabilities have more power than other states. than other states.

Government Government is the is the institution through which institution through which the state maintains social the state maintains social order, provides public order, provides public services, and enforces services, and enforces decisions that are binding decisions that are binding on all people living within on all people living within the state.the state.

The ideas of “limited government” The ideas of “limited government” shaped the constitutional shaped the constitutional government of the U.S.government of the U.S.

In 1215, King John of England In 1215, King John of England was forced to sign the was forced to sign the Magna Magna Carta Carta

. Magna Carta required King . Magna Carta required King John to proclaim certain rights (to proclaim certain rights (freemen), respect certain ), respect certain legal procedures, and accept that his , and accept that his will could be could be bound by the law. It protected . It protected certain rights of the King's certain rights of the King's subjects, whether free or fettered subjects, whether free or fettered supported what became the supported what became the writ of of habeas corpus, allowing appeal , allowing appeal

against unlawful imprisonment.against unlawful imprisonment.

The The evolutionary theory evolutionary theory holds the natural holds the natural development of government came out of early development of government came out of early family units. family units.

The The force theory states force theory states one person or a small one person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit to that person's or group's all within it to submit to that person's or group's rule. rule. The The divine right divine right is the doctrine that states the is the doctrine that states the right of rules in a monarch (one ruler) is right of rules in a monarch (one ruler) is developed directly from God and is only developed directly from God and is only accountable to God because God created the accountable to God because God created the state. state.

Petition of Right,Petition of Right, 1628, 1628, a statement of civil a statement of civil liberties sent by the liberties sent by the English Parliament to English Parliament to Charles I. .

The Petition of asserted The Petition of asserted four principles: no taxes four principles: no taxes may be levied without may be levied without consent of Parliament; no consent of Parliament; no subject may be subject may be imprisoned without cause imprisoned without cause shown habeas ; no shown habeas ; no soldiers may be soldiers may be quartered upon the quartered upon the citizenry; martial law may citizenry; martial law may not be used in time of not be used in time of peace. peace.

The The English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights names certain names certain rights to which to which subjects and and permanent residents of a of a constitutional monarchy were were thought to be entitled . thought to be entitled . Asserting subjects' Asserting subjects' right to petition the monarch, the monarch, as well as to bear arms in as well as to bear arms in defense. It also sets out defense. It also sets out certain constitutional certain constitutional requirements of requirements of the Crown to to seek the consent of the seek the consent of the people, as represented in people, as represented in parliament..

Tomas Hobbes was one of the Tomas Hobbes was one of the first to theorize on the first to theorize on the social social contract.contract.

Social contract Social contract is by contract is by contract people gave up to the state the people gave up to the state the power needed to maintain power needed to maintain order. The state, in turn, order. The state, in turn, agreed to protect the citizens.agreed to protect the citizens.

In In Leviathan, Hobbes set out , Hobbes set out his doctrine of the foundation his doctrine of the foundation of of states and legitimate and legitimate governments - based on - based on social contract theories. He . He talks about the “state of talks about the “state of nature” – what life would be nature” – what life would be like without government. like without government.

The state of nature inevitably The state of nature inevitably leads to conflict, a "war of all leads to conflict, a "war of all against all" and thus lives that are against all" and thus lives that are "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" (xiii).short" (xiii).

To escape this state of war, men To escape this state of war, men agree to a agree to a social contract . All . All individuals in that society give up individuals in that society give up their natural rights for the sake of their natural rights for the sake of protection. Any abuses of power protection. Any abuses of power by this authority are to be by this authority are to be accepted as the price of peace. accepted as the price of peace. However, he also states that in However, he also states that in severe cases of abuse, rebellion is severe cases of abuse, rebellion is expected. In particular, the expected. In particular, the doctrine of doctrine of separation of powers is is rejected. The sovereign must rejected. The sovereign must control civil, military, judicial and control civil, military, judicial and ecclesiastical powers.ecclesiastical powers.

John Locke took social John Locke took social contract a step further. contract a step further.

People were endowed with the People were endowed with the right of life, liberty, and right of life, liberty, and property. To keep these rights, property. To keep these rights, they willingly contracted to give they willingly contracted to give power to a governing authority. power to a governing authority. When government failed to When government failed to preserve the rights of the preserve the rights of the people, the people had the people, the people had the right to break the contract.right to break the contract.

He influenced the American He influenced the American Declaration of Independence.Declaration of Independence.

The The Two Treatises of Two Treatises of Government Government by by John Locke. .

People need government People need government to keep social order to keep social order because they have not because they have not figured out a way to live figured out a way to live in groups without conflict.in groups without conflict.

The Second TreatiseThe Second Treatise outlines a theory of outlines a theory of political or political or civil society based on based on natural rights and and contract theory..

The Spirit of LawsThe Spirit of Laws was was published anonymously by published anonymously by Montesquieu..

Montesquieu stressed the Montesquieu stressed the separation of powers, the separation of powers, the abolition of slavery, the abolition of slavery, the preservation of civil preservation of civil liberties, the rule of law, liberties, the rule of law, and the idea that politics and the idea that politics and laws should reflect the and laws should reflect the social and geographical social and geographical character of each character of each particular community.particular community.

Government serves four purposes: (1.) to Government serves four purposes: (1.) to maintain social order; (2.) to provide public maintain social order; (2.) to provide public services; (3.) to provide for national security and services; (3.) to provide for national security and a common defense; and (4.) to provide and a common defense; and (4.) to provide and control the economic system.control the economic system.

Government must make decisions that are Government must make decisions that are binding to all citizens. It has the authority to binding to all citizens. It has the authority to require all individuals to obey these decisions require all individuals to obey these decisions and the power to punish those who do not obey and the power to punish those who do not obey them.them.

The decisions of government The decisions of government are authoritative – they can be are authoritative – they can be enforced upon all society.enforced upon all society.

It gets its power from 2 It gets its power from 2 sources – legitimacy and sources – legitimacy and coercive force.coercive force.

Legitimacy is the willingness of Legitimacy is the willingness of citizens to obey the citizens to obey the government.government.

Coercive force comes from the Coercive force comes from the police, judicial, and military police, judicial, and military institutions of government.institutions of government.

Governments range in size Governments range in size and type. Most larger countries and type. Most larger countries have several levels of have several levels of government – national, state, government – national, state, and local.and local.

AA unitary system unitary system gives all key gives all key powers to the national or powers to the national or central government. The central government. The central government can still set central government can still set up other local or state up other local or state governments.governments.

China is an example of unitary China is an example of unitary governmentgovernment

The The federal systemfederal system divides the powers of divides the powers of government between the government between the national government and national government and state or provincial state or provincial governments.governments.

Each state has Each state has sovereignty in some sovereignty in some areas.areas.

The U.S. is an example.The U.S. is an example.

AA confederacy confederacy is a is a loose union of loose union of independent states.independent states.

The Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Independent States of Independent States (CIS), formerly known (CIS), formerly known as the Soviet Union. as the Soviet Union.

A A constitution constitution is a plan that is a plan that provides the rules for provides the rules for government.government.

It has 3 major purposes: (1.) it It has 3 major purposes: (1.) it sets out ideals that the people sets out ideals that the people bound by the constitution bound by the constitution believe in and share; (2.) it believe in and share; (2.) it establishes the basic structure establishes the basic structure of government and defines the of government and defines the government’s powers and government’s powers and duties; and (3.) it provides the duties; and (3.) it provides the supreme law for the country. supreme law for the country.

A A constitutional constitutional governmentgovernment refers to a refers to a government in which a government in which a constitution has authority constitution has authority to place clearly to place clearly recognized limits on the recognized limits on the power of those who power of those who govern.govern.

Constitutional Constitutional government is limited government is limited government.government.

Constitutions are incomplete for 2 reasons: no Constitutions are incomplete for 2 reasons: no written constitution can spell out all the laws, written constitution can spell out all the laws, customs, and ideas that grow around the customs, and ideas that grow around the document itself; and, it does not reflect the document itself; and, it does not reflect the actual practice of government in a country.actual practice of government in a country.

The main body sets out the plan for government The main body sets out the plan for government – it describes the relationship between the – it describes the relationship between the national and state governments. It is divided into national and state governments. It is divided into articles and sections.articles and sections.

Constitutions provide the supreme law of the Constitutions provide the supreme law of the land.land.

Purpose of PreamblePurpose of Preamble

The The Preamble to the United Preamble to the United States ConstitutionStates Constitution is a brief is a brief introductory statement of the of the Constitution's fundamental fundamental purposes and guiding purposes and guiding principles. It states in general principles. It states in general terms, and courts have terms, and courts have referred to it as reliable referred to it as reliable evidence of, the evidence of, the Founding Fathers' intentions intentions regarding the Constitution's regarding the Constitution's meaning and what they hoped meaning and what they hoped the Constitution would the Constitution would

achieveachieve..

Politics Politics is the effort to is the effort to control or influence control or influence the conduct and the conduct and policies of policies of government.government.

There are 2 major There are 2 major political parties in the political parties in the U.S. – Democratic U.S. – Democratic and Republican.and Republican.

Industrialized nations Industrialized nations are large are large nations with large industries nations with large industries and advanced technology that and advanced technology that provides a more comfortable provides a more comfortable way of life than developing way of life than developing nations.nations.

Characteristics: a large base Characteristics: a large base of productive capital, of productive capital, sophisticated banking systems sophisticated banking systems and financial markets, a variety and financial markets, a variety of industries producing a broad of industries producing a broad range of products, and range of products, and vigorous and varied vigorous and varied international trade. international trade. Industrialized nations also Industrialized nations also have well established systems have well established systems of government and law, and of government and law, and provide educational provide educational opportunities for their people.opportunities for their people.

Developing nations Developing nations are are those developing industry.those developing industry.

Characteristics: the Characteristics: the economy relies on a few economy relies on a few export crops, farming is export crops, farming is conducted by primitive conducted by primitive methods and, rapid methods and, rapid population growth population growth threatens the supply of threatens the supply of food. food.

Most are in Africa, Asia, Most are in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.and Latin America.

All governments All governments belong to one of 3 belong to one of 3 major groups: (1.) major groups: (1.) autocracy – rule by autocracy – rule by one person; (2.) one person; (2.) oligarchy – rule by a oligarchy – rule by a few persons; or (3.) few persons; or (3.) democracy – ruled by democracy – ruled by many persons.many persons.

Monarchy Monarchy is a form of is a form of government where a king, government where a king, queen, or emperor queen, or emperor exercises the supreme exercises the supreme power of government.power of government.

Absolute monarchs have Absolute monarchs have complete and unlimited complete and unlimited power to rule.power to rule.

Constitutional monarchs Constitutional monarchs share power with elected share power with elected legislatures and serve as legislatures and serve as ceremonial leaders.ceremonial leaders.

Oligarchy Oligarchy is a system is a system of government in of government in which a small group which a small group holds power. holds power.

Power comes from Power comes from wealth, military wealth, military power, social position, power, social position, or a combination of or a combination of these elements.these elements.

Democracy Democracy is any system of is any system of government in which rule is by government in which rule is by the people.the people.

A key to democracy is that the A key to democracy is that the people hold the power.people hold the power.

Direct democracy – is the Direct democracy – is the people govern themselves by people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as voting on issues individually as citizens.citizens.

Representative democracy – Representative democracy – the people elect the people elect representatives and give them representatives and give them the power to make laws and the power to make laws and run government.run government.

A A political party political party is a is a group of individuals group of individuals with broad common with broad common interests who interests who organize to nominate organize to nominate candidates for office, candidates for office, win elections, and win elections, and determine public determine public policy.policy.

Characteristics of Free Characteristics of Free ElectionsElections

5 Characteristics of 5 Characteristics of Free Elections:Free Elections:

1.) Suffrage1.) Suffrage

2.) Nomination2.) Nomination

3.)3.) Electoral System Electoral System

4.) Scheduling4.) Scheduling 5.) 5.) Election CampaignsElection Campaigns

Free enterprise -Free enterprise -Business governed by governed by the laws of the laws of supply and and demanddemand, not , not restrained by restrained by governmentgovernment interference, interference, regulationregulation or or subsidysubsidy, , also calledalso called free market.free market.

Government has 3 major Government has 3 major economic decisions to economic decisions to make: (1.) providing make: (1.) providing citizens with economic citizens with economic opportunities or opportunities or resources; (2.) pass laws resources; (2.) pass laws that shape the economic that shape the economic environment of the environment of the nation; and, (3.) make nation; and, (3.) make choices that distribute choices that distribute public services and public services and benefits among citizens. benefits among citizens.

Capitalism Capitalism is an economic is an economic system providing free choice system providing free choice and individual incentive for and individual incentive for workers, investors, workers, investors, consumers, and business consumers, and business enterprises.enterprises.

Free market Free market is an economic is an economic system in which buyers and system in which buyers and sellers make free choices in sellers make free choices in the marketplace.the marketplace.

Laissez-faire Laissez-faire means “to let means “to let alone” – government should alone” – government should keep its hands off the keep its hands off the economy.economy.

Socialism Socialism is an is an economic system economic system where the where the government owns the government owns the basic means of basic means of production, distributes production, distributes products and wages, products and wages, and provides social and provides social services such as services such as health care and health care and welfare.welfare.

Karl Marx was a GermanKarl Marx was a German whose ideas are credited whose ideas are credited as the foundation of as the foundation of modern communism. modern communism.

He wrote He wrote The Communist The Communist Manifesto.Manifesto.

Marx argued that Marx argued that capitalism, will inevitably capitalism, will inevitably produce internal tensions produce internal tensions which will lead to its which will lead to its destruction. He believed destruction. He believed socialism will replace socialism will replace capitalism, and lead to a capitalism, and lead to a stateless, classless stateless, classless society called pure society called pure communism. communism.

Communism Communism is a is a political and economic political and economic philosophy that philosophy that believes that one believes that one class would evolve, class would evolve, property would be property would be held in common, and held in common, and there would be no there would be no need for government.need for government.

In communist countries, In communist countries, government planners government planners decide how much to decide how much to produce, what to produce, what to produce, how to distribute produce, how to distribute the goods and services the goods and services provided, and how much provided, and how much to charge for these goods to charge for these goods and services. This is and services. This is called a called a command command economy,economy,

Functions of Government:Functions of Government:1.) Form a more perfect Union1.) Form a more perfect Union

2.) Establish Justice2.) Establish Justice

3.) Insure domestic Tranquility3.) Insure domestic Tranquility

4.) Provide for the common 4.) Provide for the common defensedefense

5.) Promote the general welfare5.) Promote the general welfare

6.) Secure the blessings of 6.) Secure the blessings of LibertyLiberty

The End.The End.