GOVERNMENT BASICSNOTES

What is government?

Government is the institution through

which a society makes and enforces its

public policies.

What are public policies?

a system of a system of lawslaws, , regulatoryregulatory measures, courses measures, courses of of actionaction, and , and fundingfunding priorities concerning a priorities concerning a

given topic publicized by a governmental entity given topic publicized by a governmental entity or its representatives or its representatives

PUT SIMPLEYPUT SIMPLEY Public Policies are those things Public Policies are those things

government decides to dogovernment decides to do and how they do and how they do themthem

What are some examples of Public Policies?What are some examples of Public Policies?

What is Public Policy?What is Public Policy?

Examples of Public PoliciesExamples of Public Policies

• Setting minimum wageSetting minimum wage• Environmental regulationsEnvironmental regulations

• Raising/maintaining a militaryRaising/maintaining a military• Collecting income taxCollecting income tax

• Providing Transportation Providing Transportation • Compulsory EducationCompulsory Education• Welfare and MedicareWelfare and Medicare

What is the STATE?

The state is a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and

having the power to make and enforce laws without having the consent of a

higher authority.

The FOUR Characteristics of State

Characteristics of the State

1. Population- the state must have people2. Territory - must have land with

recognized boundaries3. Sovereignty – must have absolute and

supreme power within its territory4. Government – must have an institution

that makes and enforces public policy

Origins of State

1. Force Theory

2. Evolutionary Theory

3. Divine Right Theory

4. Social Contract Theory

The FORCE Theory

a person or group of people take control of an area and its people by way of force (military)

The EVOLUTIONARY Theory

States developed out of the basic family unit. Extended family units would then develop as would a head of the family. Family networks would then be created and the head of the family would evolve into the head of state.

The DIVINE RIGHT Theory

A “higher power” is responsible for the creation of the state and gives certain individuals or

groups the “right” to rule.

The SOCIAL CONTRAT Theory(based on the philosophical teachings of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau in the 1600 & 1700’s)

This theory functions on the idea that along with free will comes the reality of the necessity to survive, which can

often be brutal and violent.

Therefore, the Social Contract Theory proposes that people give up their aggressive nature (power) to the state in

exchange for the state’s service to the general well being of the people. The state only exists to serve the will of

the people!

Thomas HOBBES

• Believed that human beings in a “State of Nature” would behave "badly" towards one another

• Any person has a natural right to do anything to preserve their own liberty or safety

• War is not in man's best interest – According to Hobbes, man has a self-interested and

materialistic desire to end or avoid war and enter into a social contract

• Hobbes theory ignores the fact that most people are not born into a “state of nature”

State of Nature

• A term used in social contract theories to describe the hypothetical condition of humanity before the state's foundation

• In a broader sense, it is the condition before the rule of positive law comes into being, thus being a synonym of anarchy

John LOCKE

• Like Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish

• Unlink Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance – people are born good

• In a natural state all people are equal and independent, and none have the right to harm another’s “life, health, liberty, or possessions.” – lends to the social contract

Jean-Jacques ROUSSEAU

• Unlike Hobbes & Locke, Rousseau believed that people were born pure– Man’s bad habits are the products of civilization

specifically social hierarchies, property, and markets

• Rousseau claimed that the state of nature was a primitive condition without law or morality, which human beings left for the benefits and necessity of cooperation (social contract).