Chapter 1: Principles of Government

Section 1: Gov’t and State

I. What is Government?

• 1. Gov’t is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy.

a. Public Policy

• All of the things a gov’t decides to do.

• Ex. Taxation, defense, education, crime, healthcare.

2. Every gov’t has and exercises three kinds of gov’t.

a. Legislative power- the power to make law.

b. Executive power- the power to enforce administer law.

c. Judicial power- the power to determine a laws meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within society.

3. Constitution

• A body of fundamental laws, structure, and processes of a gov’t.

4. Dictatorship

• A form of gov’t in with the leader has total and absolute power.

5. Democracy

• In a democracy supreme authority rests with the people.

II. The State

• There are four characteristics of a state.1. Population- a state must have people.2. Territory- a state must have recognized

boundaries. 3. Sovereignty- every state must have

absolute power within its own territory.4. Gov’t- every state must be politically

organized.

III. The Origins of StateWhy was the state created?

1. The Force Theory- one person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to follow their laws.

2. The Evolutionary Theory- the state developed naturally out of the family.

3. The Divine Right Theory- God created the state. People believed that God had given those of royal birth “divine right” to rule.

• 4. The Social Contract Theory- Human beings came together and agreed to form a gov’t.

IV The Purpose of Gov’t

1. Form a more perfect union.2. Establish justice3. Insure domestic tranquility4. Provide for the common defense5. Secure liberty.

Chapter 1: Principles of Government

Section 2 : Forms Of Gov’t

I. Who Can Participate

1. Democracy- Supreme political authority rests with the people.

a.) direct democracy- the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves.

b). indirect democracy-a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives.

2. Dictatorship

• Those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.

a.) autocracy- a gov’t in which a single person holds unlimited power.

b.) oligarchy- gov’t in which the power to rule is held by a usually small self appointed group.

II. Geographic Distribution of Power

• 1. Unitary Gov’t- all powers held by the gov’t belong to a single central agency.

• 2. Federal Gov’t- the powers of gov’t are divided between a central and several local governments.

• 3. Confederate Govt- an alliance of independent states.

III. Relationship Between Legislative and Executive

Branches• 1. Presidential Gov’t- the executive and

legislative branches of gov’t are separate. a.) President is chosen separately.

• 2. Parliamentary Gov’t- the executive (Prime Minister) and legislature are together.

Chapter 1: Principles of Government

Section 3: Basic Concepts of Democracy

1. America’s concepts of democracy rests on these basic

notions. 1. The fundamental worth and dignity of

every person.2. a respect for the equality of all persons.3. A faith in majority rule and an insistence

on minority rights.4. An acceptance of compromise.5. insistance of individual freedom

II. Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

1. Free Enterprise System- an economic system characterized by the private or corporate ownership of capitol goods.

2. Law of supply and demand- When supplies of goods and services become plentiful prices tend to drop. When supplies become limited prices tend to rise.

3. Mixed Economy- economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with gov’t regulation.

Chapter 2: Origins of American Gov’t

Section 2: The Coming of Independence

I. Growing of Colonial Unity

• Several attempts had been made to promote cooperation among the colonies.

1. New England Confederation- formed “a league of friendship” for defense against Native Americans.

2. The Albany Plan- the formation of an annual Congress of delegates from each of the 13 colonies.

3. The Stamp Act Congress- 9 colonies sent delegates to NY to protest new taxes.

4. Committee of Correspondence- spread throughout the colonies, providing an exchange of info among the patriots.

II. The First Continental Congress

1. Philadelphia- delegates from every colony meet here, except Georgia, on September 5, 1774.

a.) they sent a Declaration of Rights to King George.

b.) delegates urged colonists to refuse to trade with Britain.

III. The Second Continental Congress

• Meet in Philadelphia May 10, 1775, by this time the revolution had begun.

1. Representatives- each of the 13 colonies sent a representative.

• a.) a continental army was created and George Washington was appointed Commander and Chief.

2. Our First National Gov’t- served as our first gov’t for five years.

3. The Declaration of Independence- on July 4. 1776 the D of I proclaimed a new nation.

IV. The First State Constitutions

1. Drafting State Constitutions- in 1776 and 1777 most of the states adopted state constitutions.

2. Common Features a.) popular sovereignty- gov’t can only exist

with the consent of the people. b.) limited Gov’t c.) Civil Rights d.) Checks and Balances