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The Basics of Government. Government and the state. What is Government?. Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies (all the things government decides to do). What is a State?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE
The Basics of Government
What is Government?
Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies (all the things government decides to do)
What is a State?
-a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (with a govt) and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authorityStates!!!
Why do we call Kansas a State?
When we founded the “United States” it was meant to be States (governments) that were United
Over time we went from being states the were united (plural) to being “The United States” (singular)
What is a Nation?
Group of people with a common culture and identity
Word Breakdown
State=govt ruling a certain territory (sometimes a country)Ex. Germany, USA, Japan, Kansas, New York
Nation=culture group with common ideas and way of life Ex. Christian Nation, Osage Nation, Viking Nation, Americans
Nation-State-BOTH a Nation and a State (a Country) Ex. USA, Great Britain, Kenya, India, Turkey, Japan, Korea
Stateless Nation- a culture group (nation) that is ruled by someone else…(a culture without a home country) Ex. Kurds, Palestinians,
State, Nation, Nation State, Stateless Nation?
Which of the above words apply to … USA? Pawnees? Palestinians? Catholics? Germany? Russian Federation?
Four Characteristics of the State
PopulationTerritorySovereigntyGovernment
Population
You need people to create a state! San Marino- 27,000 people China- 1.3 Billion people
Territory
You need a piece of land to set your state up on
San Marino 24 sq milesRussia 6.6 million sq miles
Sovereignty
Uuuhhhhhhmmmm……what
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5xVRXLgLxw
Sovereignty
Sovereignty: the right to govern yourselfOfficial def: when a state has supreme and
absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies. Its neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority
Ex. USA is responsible for USA, Mexico is responsible for Mexico.
Government
You have to have an organized structure….no anarchy.
How did humans come to rely on social organization and why did they create governments (States)?
4 theories Force Theory Evolutionary Theory The Divine Right Theory Social Contract Theory
The Force Theory
Pretty much exactly what it sounds likeA person or a group of people take a plot of
an areaThey then make/force people to submit to
that person’s/people’s rule
The Evolutionary Theory
States that states evolved from the family unit over time
The head of the household has powerGovernmental structures arose from this
organizational system
Divine Right Theory
States that God (divine power) created the state
Those born into royal families have the right to rule based on this
Basically, God gave them the power to rule
Which theory is currently the foundation of our existing government?
Social Contract TheoryThis theory was developed in the 1600s and
1700s by Thomas Hobbes Jean Jacques Rousseau John Locke
Which Theory were these guys mainly challenging? Divine Right Theory
What is this period of time called? Enlightenment
John Locke and Thomas Jefferson
John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government in which he discussed what may happen if a “Social Contract” is broken
Thomas Jefferson used these ideas in explaining why the Colonies were declaring independence from Britain, when he wrote…. The Declaration of Independence
Purposes of Government
Form a more perfect union Unite the people
Establish justice Fair for all
Insure domestic tranquility Peace at home
Provide for the common defense Protect us from out enemies
Promote the general welfare Life is good for all
Secure the blessings of liberty Freedom
Quick History of US Government US Govt Documents (1770s-1790s)
Declaring Independence from BritainWrote and Established Articles of
Confederation-FAILConstitutional Congress writes the
Constitution Wasn't going to pass unless a “Bill of Rights” was
going to be added that restricted the Governments power.
Constitution was ratified (accepted)Bill of Rights is immediately added to it (1st
Ten Amendments)
Constitution
A constitution is the body of fundamental laws setting out principles, structures and processes of a government
THE CONSTITUTION is the US main structure and foundation of government-”The Supreme Law of the Land”
The Constitution
Preamble:“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”
School House Rock-Preamble
Three Branches
LegislativeExecutive Judicial
Legislative Branch
Make Laws/Write Laws/LegislateHouse of Rep. + House of Senate= CongressHOR-435, 2 year term, based on populationSenate-100 6 year term, 2 per state
Executive
Carries out the laws/enforces the lawsPresident, VP, and his cabinets4 year terms, 2 term max
Judicial
Interprets laws and Settles disputesSupreme Court and Court Systems
The Roberts Court, 2010Back row (left to right): Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, and Elena Kagan. Front row (left to right): Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Forms of Government
Democracy – People hold the power and allow the government to rule
Direct Democracy – People vote on all lawsIndirect democracy – A small group of people
chosen by the people vote and make laws (representative democracy) Consent of the governed
Which of the two do we use?
Forms of Government
Dictatorship – those who rule do not have to listen to the people
Autocracy – One person holds the power and makes the rule for everyone else Unlimited political power for one
Oligarchy – a small group of people hold the power over everyone else
Distribution of Power in Government
Unitary Government – All the power in one central location
Confederate Government – Alliance of independent states
Federal Government (Federalism) – Powers of the government are divided between a central government (federal) and regional governments (state and local)
The constitution is superior to both
Relationship Between Legislative Branch and Executive Branch
Presidential – Legislative and Executive branches are distinct and equal President is chosen separately from the legislature
and there is a system of checks and balancesParliamentary – People (voters) elect the
legislature who selects the chief executive (Prime Minister, typically) from the majority party Executive can be removed through a vote of no
confidence
Relationship Between Legislative Branch and Executive Branch
Chart of Some Countries
Foundations of Democracy
A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person Worth and dignity must be acknowledged by all Welfare of one may be subordinated by the
interest of the manyA respect for the equality of all persons
Equal opportunity Equal in the eyes of the law
A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights Majority is most likely right most of the time Majority must listen to minority
Foundations of Democracy
An acceptance of the necessity of compromise Find what is best and acceptable for the largest
number of people possibleAn insistence upon the widest possible
degree of individual freedom Freedom cannot be absolute (anarchy will
happen) My freedoms end at the freedoms of another
Democracy and Free Enterprise
The free enterprise system is an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control; and determined in a free market.
Decisions in a free enterprise system are determined by the law of supply and demand.
An economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion is called a mixed economy.