PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

Chapter 1

Government & The State

Government is the institution through which society creates and enforces public policy. What is Public Policy?

Laws Characteristics of a state

Population Territory Sovereignty Government

Four Theories about the origin of the State Force Theory – the strongest took over

Evolutionary Theory – state evolved from the family

Divine Right Theory – born to rule

Social Contract Theory – people got together and asked someone to run things for them.

Purpose of the U.S. Government… To serve the citizens!!!!!

Forms of Government

Government Classifications Geographic – involves the distribution of

power between the branches and levels of government

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Participation – how many people are allowed to participate in the government?

Geographic Distribution of Power Unitary Government – all powers are held by a

single central agency British Parliament

Federal Government – all powers are divided between the central/national government and the local government United States of America

Washington D.C. Atlanta, Georgia

Confederation – an alliance of independent states

U.S.A. Under the Confederate States of America

Articles of Confederation

Relationship between the executive and legislative branches Presidential Government – the

president/executive is NOT a member of the congress/legislature

Voters

Elect

Elect President

Legislature/Congress

Parliamentary Government – the voters elect the members of parliament who then select the executive/prime minister. The executive/prime minister IS a member of Parliament.

Voters

ElectMembers of Parliament

Elect

Executive/Prime Minister

Participation – the number of people who actually get to take part in the government. Dictatorship – one person or a small group of

people. Democracy – all qualified voters rule.

Basic Concepts of Democracy

U.S. Concepts of Democracy Worth of Everyone Equality of Everyone Majority rule with minority rights Compromise Freedom without anarchy

“My rights end where the other person’s nose begins”

Oliver Wendell Holmes