Foundations of American Foundations of American GovernmentGovernment

Principles of GovernmentPrinciples of Government

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Why It MattersWhy It Matters

““Government is essential to the Government is essential to the existence of human beings in a existence of human beings in a

civilized society. What any particular civilized society. What any particular government is like and what that government is like and what that

government does have an government does have an extraordinary impact on the lives of extraordinary impact on the lives of all people who live within its reach.”all people who live within its reach.”

What is Political Science?What is Political Science? A field in social science concerned A field in social science concerned

with government and politics.with government and politics.

What does it have to do with my life?What does it have to do with my life?

Why is government important to me?Why is government important to me?

GovernmentGovernment

The institution (structure) through The institution (structure) through which society makes and enforces its which society makes and enforces its public polices.public polices.

Public PoliciesPublic Policies - basically, all of those - basically, all of those things a government decides to do.things a government decides to do.

A government must have A government must have powerpower in in order to make and carry out policy.order to make and carry out policy.

The Big IdeaThe Big Idea

A government enables a society to A government enables a society to carry out its policies and protect its carry out its policies and protect its citizens from violence and injustice.citizens from violence and injustice.

Without GovernmentWithout Government

What would your life be like?What would your life be like? Who would protect you?Who would protect you? Who would provide services?Who would provide services?

““Without government there would be Without government there would be continual fear and danger of violent continual fear and danger of violent death and life would be solitary, poor, death and life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (Thomas nasty, brutish, and short” (Thomas Hobbes). Hobbes).

Grab a Partner…Grab a Partner…

You have two minutes to think of as You have two minutes to think of as many services provided by the many services provided by the government (or functions of the government (or functions of the government) as possible.government) as possible.

PoliticsPolitics

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

Politics and GovernmentPolitics and Government

The effort to control or influence the The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government conduct and policies of government is called…is called…PoliticsPolitics

Can you give an example of a person Can you give an example of a person taking part in politics?taking part in politics?

Politics is a Process,Politics is a Process, Government is an institution Government is an institution

Politics enables society to decide who Politics enables society to decide who will reap the benefits and who will pay will reap the benefits and who will pay the cost.the cost.

The means by which gov’t is The means by which gov’t is conducted.conducted.

Government is the institution that helps Government is the institution that helps society function. society function.

Neither could exist without the otherNeither could exist without the other

Types of Governmental Types of Governmental PowerPower

Power is the ability to command or Power is the ability to command or prevent action, the ability to achieve prevent action, the ability to achieve a desired end.a desired end.

Every government has and exercises Every government has and exercises three basic kinds of power…three basic kinds of power…– Legislative PowerLegislative Power– Executive PowerExecutive Power– Judicial PowerJudicial Power

ConstitutionConstitution

The body of fundamental laws The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government. and processes of a government.

The powers of government are often The powers of government are often outlined in a country’s constitution. outlined in a country’s constitution.

Dictatorship vs. DemocracyDictatorship vs. Democracy

In a _________, the ultimate In a _________, the ultimate responsibility for the exercise of responsibility for the exercise of power may be held by a single power may be held by a single person or a small group of people.person or a small group of people.

In a _________, the responsibility for the In a _________, the responsibility for the exercise of power rests with a exercise of power rests with a majority of the people. majority of the people.

Principles of GovernmentPrinciples of Government StateState – A political – A political

community that community that occupies a definite occupies a definite territory and has an territory and has an organized government organized government with the power to with the power to make and enforce make and enforce laws without approval laws without approval from a higher from a higher authority (Means the authority (Means the same as country).same as country).

Nation/CountryNation/Country – – Any sizeable group of Any sizeable group of people who are united people who are united by common bonds of by common bonds of race, language, race, language, custom, tradition, and custom, tradition, and sometimes, religion. sometimes, religion.

How many states are there in How many states are there in the world today??the world today??

Approximately 200Approximately 200

Essential Features of a StateEssential Features of a State

PopulationPopulation

Territory Territory

SovereigntySovereignty

GovernmentGovernment

Make-Up of a StateMake-Up of a State

The people who make up a state may The people who make up a state may or may not be or may not be homogeneoushomogeneous. .

Note, the adjective homogeneous Note, the adjective homogeneous describes members of a group who describes members of a group who share customs, a common language, share customs, a common language, and ethnic background.and ethnic background.

Sovereignty Sovereignty

Supreme and absolute power within Supreme and absolute power within a country’s own territory; the only a country’s own territory; the only source of power.source of power.

Allows a state to determine its own Allows a state to determine its own form of government.form of government.

Is Georgia a sovereign state?Is Georgia a sovereign state?

Theories of the Origin of the Theories of the Origin of the StateState

Evolutionary Evolutionary Theory Theory

Force Theory Force Theory Divine Right Divine Right

TheoryTheory Social Contract Social Contract

TheoryTheory– Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes– John LockeJohn Locke

ExampleExample

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

Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean

Jacques Rousseau (17Jacques Rousseau (17thth and 18 and 18thth Century) Century) In order to escape the brutal state of In order to escape the brutal state of

nature and unpleasant conditions, people nature and unpleasant conditions, people agreed to a contract giving up certain agreed to a contract giving up certain rights to attain protection and safety.rights to attain protection and safety.

VoluntaryVoluntary Promoted popular sovereignty, limited Promoted popular sovereignty, limited

government, and individual rightsgovernment, and individual rights Very important in shaping the Very important in shaping the

American governmental systemAmerican governmental system

The Purposes of The Purposes of Government Government

Form a more perfect UnionForm a more perfect Union Establish JusticeEstablish Justice

– What does “Justice” mean?What does “Justice” mean? Insure domestic tranquilityInsure domestic tranquility Provide for the Common DefenseProvide for the Common Defense Promote the General WelfarePromote the General Welfare Secure the Blessings of Liberty Secure the Blessings of Liberty (Individual rights and personal freedoms)(Individual rights and personal freedoms)

John Locke: Second Treatise of John Locke: Second Treatise of GovernmentGovernment

Without government, people live in a state Without government, people live in a state of complete freedom.of complete freedom.

Right to life, liberty, and propertyRight to life, liberty, and property

Why would the people give up some of Why would the people give up some of their freedom and liberties???their freedom and liberties???

Consent of the governed Consent of the governed

Forms of GovernmentForms of Government

Why It Matters:Why It Matters:– Because whatever its form, government Because whatever its form, government

has an impact on nearly every moment has an impact on nearly every moment and nearly every aspect of your life.and nearly every aspect of your life.

Forms of GovernmentForms of Government

Classifying GovernmentsClassifying Governments1.1. Who can participate? Who can participate? [To many, this is the [To many, this is the

most important]most important]

2.2. Geographic distributionGeographic distribution

3.3. Relationship between Executive and Relationship between Executive and LegislatureLegislature

Who Can Participate?Who Can Participate?

DemocracyDemocracy Supreme political authority Supreme political authority

rests with the people; rests with the people; people hold sovereign people hold sovereign powerpower

Consent of the governed Consent of the governed ““government of the government of the

people, by the people, for people, by the people, for the people”the people”

The people are the only The people are the only source for any and all of source for any and all of government’s powers. government’s powers.

Ex. United StatesEx. United States

DictatorshipDictatorship Those who rule are not held Those who rule are not held

responsible to the will of the responsible to the will of the peoplepeople

Oldest form of governmentOldest form of government Authoritarian – those in Authoritarian – those in

power hold absolute and power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority unchallengeable authority over the peopleover the people

Many are totalitarian – Many are totalitarian – control all aspects of human control all aspects of human affairsaffairs

Ex. People’s Republic of Ex. People’s Republic of ChinaChina

DemocracyDemocracy

A system of government in which A system of government in which rule is by the people. rule is by the people.

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy Representative Democracy / RepublicRepresentative Democracy / Republic

Types of DictatorshipsTypes of Dictatorships

AutocracyAutocracy A government in which a single person A government in which a single person

holds unlimited political power.holds unlimited political power.– Totalitarian DictatorshipTotalitarian Dictatorship– Absolute Monarchy Absolute Monarchy – Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

OligarchyOligarchy A government in which the power to rule is A government in which the power to rule is

held by a small, usually self-appointed held by a small, usually self-appointed elite.elite.

ExamplesExamples

Fascist Italy [1922-1943] / MussoliniFascist Italy [1922-1943] / Mussolini

Nazi Germany [1933-1945] / HitlerNazi Germany [1933-1945] / Hitler

Soviet Union [1917-1980’s] / StalinSoviet Union [1917-1980’s] / Stalin

People’s Republic of China [1949-People’s Republic of China [1949-present]present]

Government Systems / Government Systems / Geographic DistributionGeographic Distribution

Countries have Countries have developed developed differently over differently over time causing time causing different types of different types of governments to governments to form. form.

Unitary SystemUnitary System

Ex. Great BritainEx. Great Britain

Federal SystemFederal System

Ex. United States Ex. United States

ConfederationConfederation

An alliance of independent statesAn alliance of independent states Typically have limited powers in fields Typically have limited powers in fields

such as foreign affairs or defensesuch as foreign affairs or defense This type of government makes it This type of government makes it

possible for several States to possible for several States to cooperate in matters of common cooperate in matters of common concern, while at the same time concern, while at the same time retaining their separate identities. retaining their separate identities.

Relationship between Relationship between Executive and Legislative Executive and Legislative

Branches Branches PresidentialPresidential

Separation of Powers / Separation of Powers / two separate but co-two separate but co-equal branchesequal branches

Each branch has Each branch has powers that can block powers that can block the actions of the otherthe actions of the other

U.S. is leading example U.S. is leading example / mostly found in / mostly found in Western HemisphereWestern Hemisphere

ParliamentaryParliamentary The executive is a part The executive is a part

of the legislature, or of the legislature, or the parliament, and is the parliament, and is subject to its direct subject to its direct control.control.

Most governments in Most governments in the world are the world are parliamentary, not parliamentary, not presidential presidential

*Parliamentary avoids deadlock between executive and legislature, but does not have the same separation of powers.

The Big IdeaThe Big Idea

The United States is a democracy The United States is a democracy with a federal and presidential with a federal and presidential system of government. system of government.

Basic Concepts of Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy

1.1. Worth of the IndividualWorth of the Individual2.2. Equality of All PersonsEquality of All Persons3.3. Majority Rule, Minority RightsMajority Rule, Minority Rights4.4. Necessity of CompromiseNecessity of Compromise5.5. Individual FreedomIndividual Freedom

Democracy exist in America b/c we Democracy exist in America b/c we believe in it’s basic concepts.believe in it’s basic concepts.

The Success of DemocracyThe Success of Democracy

Democratic government is more likely Democratic government is more likely to succeed in countries which to some to succeed in countries which to some degree meet five general criteria.degree meet five general criteria.

1.1. Active citizen participationActive citizen participation

2.2. A favorable economyA favorable economy

3.3. Widespread educationWidespread education

4.4. Strong civil societyStrong civil society

5.5. A social consensus A social consensus

Free Enterprise / CapitalismFree Enterprise / Capitalism

Private ownership of capital goodsPrivate ownership of capital goods Investments made by private Investments made by private

decisions, not by government decisions, not by government directives / Individual Initiative directives / Individual Initiative

Success or failure determined by Success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace / competition in the marketplace / Profits and CompetitionProfits and Competition

Supply and DemandSupply and Demand

Free Enterprise system does not rely on Free Enterprise system does not rely on the government to decide what items the government to decide what items are produced, how much is produced, are produced, how much is produced, or how much items sell for.or how much items sell for.

Law of Supply and DemandLaw of Supply and DemandWhen supplies and goods become When supplies and goods become

plentiful, prices drop. plentiful, prices drop. When supplies become scarce, prices When supplies become scarce, prices

rise.rise.

Mixed EconomyMixed Economy

Type of economy in which private Type of economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion.regulation and promotion.

Government’s PurposesGovernment’s Purposes

1.1. To protect the publicTo protect the public

2.2. To preserve private enterpriseTo preserve private enterprise

Democracy and the InternetDemocracy and the Internet

More than 180 million Americans More than 180 million Americans have internet access. have internet access.

Can be a good tool to insure an Can be a good tool to insure an informed population, but can also be informed population, but can also be inaccurate or biased.inaccurate or biased.