Principles of GovernmentPrinciples of Government

1.1: Government and the 1.1: Government and the StateState

1.2: Forms of Government1.2: Forms of Government

1.3: Basic Concepts of 1.3: Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy

The Government and the StateThe Government and the State

““Government”:Government”: the the institution through which a institution through which a society makes and enforces society makes and enforces public policy.public policy.

““Public policy”:Public policy”: anything anything that a government decides that a government decides to do. to do. This list is nearly This list is nearly endlessendless (taxation, defense, (taxation, defense, education, health care, education, health care, etc.).etc.).

Every government exercises 3 types of Every government exercises 3 types of power:power:

1. Legislative1. Legislative

2. Executive2. Executive

3. Judicial3. Judicial

1. Legislative Powers1. Legislative Powers

““Legislative”:Legislative”: the power the power to make laws.to make laws.

In the United States, In the United States, this power is used by this power is used by Congress Congress (the House of (the House of Representatives and the Representatives and the Senate).Senate).

2. Executive Powers2. Executive Powers

““Executive”:Executive”: the the power to enforce/ power to enforce/ administer laws.administer laws.

There are many There are many individuals/groups individuals/groups that make up this that make up this branch in the U.S., branch in the U.S., but but the leader of the leader of this group is the this group is the President.President.

3. Judicial Powers3. Judicial Powers

““Judicial”:Judicial”: the power to the power to interpret law interpret law (determine meaning of (determine meaning of laws).laws).

This power is used This power is used within the court within the court system of the United system of the United States. Judges run the States. Judges run the courts / courts / the highest the highest court is the Supreme court is the Supreme Court.Court.

The easiest way to remember:The easiest way to remember:

LLegislative = Make egislative = Make LLaws aws

EExecutive = xecutive = EEnforce Lawsnforce Laws

JJudicial = udicial = JJudge (Interpret) Lawsudge (Interpret) Laws

These powers are often outlined by a These powers are often outlined by a country’scountry’s

““constitution”:constitution”: body of fundamental laws body of fundamental laws settingsetting

out the principles, structures, and processes out the principles, structures, and processes ofof

governmentgovernment..

The State:The State:

The The “state”“state” is the dominant political is the dominant political unit in the world. unit in the world. Every state has 4 Every state has 4 major characteristics:major characteristics:

1. Population 1. Population

2. Territory2. Territory

3. Sovereignty3. Sovereignty

4. Government4. Government

1. Population1. Population

A state must have A state must have residentsresidents in in order for it to exist.order for it to exist.

**The amount of population does not The amount of population does not

matter:matter:

San MarinoSan Marino has a population of has a population of

27,000.27,000.

ChinaChina has a population of has a population of 1.3 billion.1.3 billion.

2. Territory2. Territory

A state must have A state must have landland on which on which its population can live.its population can live.

* The amount of land does not * The amount of land does not

matter:matter:

San MarinoSan Marino is is 24 square miles.24 square miles.

RussiaRussia is is 6.6 million square miles.6.6 million square miles.

3. Sovereignty3. Sovereignty

A state must have A state must have “sovereignty”:“sovereignty”: supreme and absolute power within supreme and absolute power within its own territory (it is not its own territory (it is not subordinate to any other authority).subordinate to any other authority).

ExampleExample: no other country decides what : no other country decides what laws will be passed within the United laws will be passed within the United States. States. We decide our own laws because We decide our own laws because we have sovereignty (absolute power we have sovereignty (absolute power within our borders).within our borders).

4. Government4. Government

A state must have A state must have governmentgovernment to to maintain order and enforce public maintain order and enforce public policy – policy – without government, there without government, there would be chaos.would be chaos.

All 4 of these characteristics: All 4 of these characteristics: population, territory, sovereignty, population, territory, sovereignty, and government must be present and government must be present in order for a “state” to exist.in order for a “state” to exist.

Why/How did states develop Why/How did states develop in the first place?in the first place?

1. Force Theory:1. Force Theory: The oldest/strongest The oldest/strongest member of a group forced all other member of a group forced all other members under his control in a members under his control in a specific area.specific area.

2. Evolutionary Theory:2. Evolutionary Theory: states evolved states evolved over time from a single-family unit.over time from a single-family unit.

Example:Example:Family Family Clan Clan Tribe Tribe State. State.

3. Divine Right Theory:3. Divine Right Theory: God (or some God (or some higher power) created the state to benefit higher power) created the state to benefit human life.human life.

4. Social Contract Theory:4. Social Contract Theory: people chose people chose to form government in order to have a to form government in order to have a safer, more productive, society. safer, more productive, society.

*The people agreed to give up there *The people agreed to give up there freedoms – they were not forced to do freedoms – they were not forced to do so (John Locke and Thomas Hobbes).so (John Locke and Thomas Hobbes).

The Fundamental Purposes of The Fundamental Purposes of Government:Government:

1.1. Form a More Perfect Union:Form a More Perfect Union: tie the country and its tie the country and its people together.people together.

2.2. Establish Justice:Establish Justice: reasonable, fair, and impartial laws reasonable, fair, and impartial laws for everyone.for everyone.

3. Insure Domestic Tranquility:3. Insure Domestic Tranquility: keeping peace at home. keeping peace at home.

4. Provide for Common Defense:4. Provide for Common Defense: ensuring the security of ensuring the security of the U.S.the U.S.

5. Promote the General Welfare:5. Promote the General Welfare: provide services that provide services that benefit the people.benefit the people.

6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty:6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty: ensure freedom for ensure freedom for everyone.everyone.

Forms of Government:Forms of Government:

Governments can be classified Governments can be classified according to three major categories:according to three major categories:

1. Who can participate in government.1. Who can participate in government.

2. The geographic distribution of power.2. The geographic distribution of power.

3. The relationship between the 3. The relationship between the

legislative and executive branches.legislative and executive branches.

1. Who Can Participate1. Who Can Participate

A. “Dictatorship”:A. “Dictatorship”: those who rule are those who rule are not responsible to not responsible to the will of the people the will of the people – the government is – the government is not held accountable not held accountable for its policies. for its policies. Dictatorships hold Dictatorships hold absolute power over absolute power over the people – they the people – they usually gain/maintain usually gain/maintain their power through their power through military force.military force.

B. “Democracy”:B. “Democracy”: the people hold the the people hold the sovereign power sovereign power and government is and government is conducted only by conducted only by and with the and with the consent of the consent of the people. people. In In democracies, the democracies, the people give the people give the government its government its power.power.

2. Geographic Distribution of 2. Geographic Distribution of PowerPower

A. “Unitary A. “Unitary Government”:Government”: all all powers held by powers held by government belong to government belong to a single, central a single, central agency. Local agency. Local governments only governments only have powers that the have powers that the central government central government chooses to give them. chooses to give them. Most governments Most governments today are unitary.today are unitary.

In Great Britain, all governmental power is held in Parliament, the central governmental agency.

B. “Federal B. “Federal Government”:Government”: the the powers of government powers of government are divided between a are divided between a central government central government and several local and several local governments. governments. National and local National and local governments both governments both have laws, officials, have laws, officials, and agencies that act and agencies that act directly on the people. directly on the people.

In the United States, power is divided between the federal government and state governments. These powers are given by the Constitution.

3.3. Relationship Between Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Legislative and Executive

BranchesBranchesA. “Parliamentary A. “Parliamentary

Government”:Government”: the the executive power is executive power is elected by (and thus elected by (and thus part of) the part of) the legislative powerlegislative power. . The legislative and The legislative and executive branches executive branches are one and the are one and the same.same.

B. B. “Presidential“Presidential Government”:Government”: the the executive and executive and legislative branches legislative branches are independent of are independent of one another and one another and coequal. coequal. The The powers of each powers of each branch can block branch can block actions of the actions of the other.other.

The Basic Concepts of Democracy The Basic Concepts of Democracy in America:in America:

1. Worth of Individual:1. Worth of Individual: every individual is of value – every individual is of value – sometimes individuals are forced to do things they would rather sometimes individuals are forced to do things they would rather not do for the sake of society as a whole.not do for the sake of society as a whole.

2. Equality of All Persons:2. Equality of All Persons: every individual is entitled to every individual is entitled to equality of opportunity and equality before the lawequality of opportunity and equality before the law – no person – no person should be held back for arbitrary reasons like race, gender, should be held back for arbitrary reasons like race, gender, religion, etc.religion, etc.

3. Majority Rule, Minority Rights:3. Majority Rule, Minority Rights: the majority of people the majority of people will be right more often than they will be wrong – but majority will be right more often than they will be wrong – but majority rule must not exist if minority rights are compromised.rule must not exist if minority rights are compromised.

4. Necessity of Compromise:4. Necessity of Compromise: individuals will have opposing individuals will have opposing views; therefore, we must views; therefore, we must “compromise”:“compromise”: the process of the process of adjusting competing views and interests.adjusting competing views and interests.

5. Individual Freedom:5. Individual Freedom: freedoms must be free to live as they freedoms must be free to live as they want – as long as these individual freedoms do not infringe want – as long as these individual freedoms do not infringe upon the rights of society as a whole. upon the rights of society as a whole. *Complete freedom *Complete freedom would be anarchy.would be anarchy.

In a democracy,In a democracy, the people hold the power the people hold the power

The government exists to serve our wants and best

interests.