What is Freedom?What is Freedom?

Is freedom an absolute?Is freedom an absolute? Do we have to give up freedom to Do we have to give up freedom to

obtain or have freedom?obtain or have freedom? What do you think Freedom is?What do you think Freedom is?

Write a 7-10 sentence paragraph Write a 7-10 sentence paragraph explaining what freedom is to you.explaining what freedom is to you.

Why do we have Governments?Why do we have Governments?

To form UnionsTo form Unions Establish JusticeEstablish Justice Insure Domestic TranquilityInsure Domestic Tranquility Provide a Common DefenseProvide a Common Defense Promote the General WelfarePromote the General Welfare Secure the Blessing of LibertySecure the Blessing of Liberty

Would someone please volunteer to go Would someone please volunteer to go and read the Preamble of the Constitutionand read the Preamble of the Constitution

Theories on Gov’tTheories on Gov’t

Divine Right: God grants authority to Divine Right: God grants authority to rule to Royalty. rule to Royalty.

Social Contract Theory: Developed by Social Contract Theory: Developed by John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes. and Thomas Hobbes. It is a Gov't that is created out of It is a Gov't that is created out of

necessity by a voluntary act of free necessity by a voluntary act of free people. people.

It serves to the will of the people that are It serves to the will of the people that are the source of political power and can give the source of political power and can give or take it away as they choose. or take it away as they choose.

Forms of GovernmentForms of Government

Unitary Gov’tUnitary Gov’t: one single central : one single central agencyagency

Federal Gov’tFederal Gov’t: Central and Local Gov’t: Central and Local Gov’t Confederate Gov’tConfederate Gov’t: An alliance of : An alliance of

independent statesindependent states Presidential Gov’tPresidential Gov’t: Separation of : Separation of

powers between Executive and powers between Executive and Legislative branchesLegislative branches

Forms of Government Cont.Forms of Government Cont.

Parliamentary Gov’tParliamentary Gov’t: Executive : Executive branch headed by Prime Minister, branch headed by Prime Minister, chosen by Legislative body out of the chosen by Legislative body out of the body.body.

Dictatorship Gov’tDictatorship Gov’t: Those who are in : Those who are in power are not held responsible by power are not held responsible by the people.the people.

DemocracyDemocracy

What’s all the talk about…What’s all the talk about…really?really?

DemocracyDemocracy Supreme political authority rests with Supreme political authority rests with

the peoplethe people People hold sovereign powerPeople hold sovereign power Gov’t run by the consent of the peopleGov’t run by the consent of the people Two forms of DemocracyTwo forms of Democracy

Direct: People’s will is translated into Direct: People’s will is translated into public policypublic policy

Representative: Small groups chosen by Representative: Small groups chosen by the people to represent their wants and the people to represent their wants and needs.needs.

This is called Gov’t with the consent of the This is called Gov’t with the consent of the governedgoverned

Basic Concepts of Democracy in Basic Concepts of Democracy in the United Statesthe United States

1.1. A recognition of the fundamental A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every personworth and dignity of every person

2.2. A respect for the equality of all A respect for the equality of all personspersons

3.3. A faith in majority rule and an A faith in majority rule and an insistence up on minority rightsinsistence up on minority rights

4.4. An acceptance of the necessity of An acceptance of the necessity of compromise compromise

5.5. An insistence upon the widest An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedompossible degree of individual freedom

Final Thoughts on DemocracyFinal Thoughts on Democracy

Democracy is not a perfect systemDemocracy is not a perfect system Its more of less a system of trial and Its more of less a system of trial and

error and learning from those errorserror and learning from those errors