Why do we need a government?

•“A collective of individuals and institutions, the formal vehicles through which policies are made and affairs of state are conducted” (O’Connor, Sabato, Haag and Keith, p. 5).

Government:

Typical Justifications for Government:

1.To protect life, liberty and property

2.To aspire to a meaningful, moral community

3.To achieve compromise, cooperation, and coexistence among individuals with conflicting goals and interests

4.To enable the coordination on problems requiring collective action, such as the provision of public goods

5.To manage common resources, prevent negative externalities, subsidize positive externalities

6.To shelter us in uncertain futures and from unforeseen crises

The Founding Fathers believed we are all born with

NATURAL RIGHTS (1787)

These natural rights are:LIFE

LIBERTYPURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

But these ideas DID NOT come from our founding fathers……….

These ideas, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…….that we take for granted….were taken from the writings of……..

Hobbes vs. Locke

Concepts they share:The State of NatureNatural RightsThe Social Contract

Where they differ:What drives human behavior?

Passion (Hobbes) Reason (Locke)

What is the best form of government?

Absolute monarchy (Hobbes)Constitutionalism (Locke)

essential concepts Hobbes

Locke

1. Wanted to construct a “science of politics” based on an indisputable principle2. This principle must be based on the strongest element in human nature3. The strongest element was passion, not reason4. The strongest passion is fear of violent death5. This fear gives rise to the natural right of self-preservation6. The natural right of self-preservation is the basis of Hobbes’ thought

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)

• In a state of nature there is a war of every man against every man

• “No arts, no letters, and which is worst of all, continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

• To secure peace men make contracts establishing a sovereign power who is not subject to civil law since by its will it creates the law

• Of the three forms of sovereignty (monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy), monarchy is the most effective in securing peace

Leviathan (1651)

John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

• The state of nature is not a state of perpetual war;

• All men are free and equal; no man by nature is sovereign over another man

• The law of nature, revealed by reason, governs the state of nature

• Natural rights include the right to Life, Liberty, and Estate (property)

John Locke (1632-1704)

John Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government (1690)

• No one ought to harm another in his life, liberty, or property; if anyone does harm another, the one he harms has the right to punish him

• Through a social contract, people create a government to protect their natural rights of life, liberty, and property

• The best form of government to protect natural rights is a government of limited powers (constitutionalism)

• If a government breaks the social contract, the people have the right to dissolve it

Two Treatises of Civil Government (1690)

Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence

(1776)• The founding document of the United

States of America• Influenced by Enlightenment political

thought, especially that of John Locke• States the principles upon which the

new nation would be founded• Jefferson’s argument for independence

– Natural rights

– A right to revolution

– A list of grievances

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

What is the purpose of government?

• THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY– The purpose of government is to protect the people and their rights (Life,

Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness).– If a government cannot do this, we have the right to get rid of that

government.– Has this ever happened?

• The American Revolution: We got rid of the King and Parliament because we felt as though they were not protecting our rights.

• Every time a majority of Americans chose not to reelect a president or senator or representative.

Are there different types of government?

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

UNITARY CONFEDERATE FEDERALISM

AUTHORITARIANMONMA

DICTATORSHIP

OLIGARCHY

MONARCHY

DEMOCRACY

DIRECT

REPRESENTATIVEREP

PRESIDENTIAL

PARLIAMENTARY

AUTHORITARIANUse of fear and forceNo rule of lawRule by one or small groupUnlimited powerElections offer no choiceRights are not guaranteed

DEMOCRACYLimited governmentRule of law is followedRights are guaranteedOfficials are elected

FORMS OF

GOVERNMENT Distribution of

Power and Authority

Governments differ based on AuthorityGovernments differ based on AuthorityHow much power/control does the How much power/control does the government have?government have?How does the government gain powerHow does the government gain powerPower SpectrumPower Spectrum

AnarchyAnarchyTotalitarianTotalitarian

Power by AuthorityPower by Authority

DEMOCRACY – government in which the people hold the ruling power.

In a democracy, the government is elected by the people. Everyone who is eligible to vote has a chance to have their say over who runs the country. It is distinct from governments controlled by a particular social class or group (aristocracy; oligarchy) or by a single person (despotism; dictatorship; monarchy). A democracy is determined either directly or through elected representatives.

REPUBLIC – a state or nation in which the voters elect officials –or delegates to make laws and run the government

CharacteristicsRespect for individual rightsMeaningful electionsHeavily regulated to government controlled economy Cradle to grave social servicesHigh taxes

Democratic Socialism

Mix of democratic principles with varying degrees of government control of the economy.Popular model in Europe

MONARCH – a ruler, as a king, queen, or emperor (comes from the aristocracy)

MONARCHY – a government which is led and controlled by a monarch.

DICTATORSHIP – a government controlled by a dictator

DICTATOR - a ruler who has complete control over a country.

TOTALITARIAN – a government in which one political party has complete control and outlaws all others

Benito Mussolini (Italy)Adolf Hitler (Germany)Joseph Stalin (The Soviet Union)

Government and the state manages nearly all Government and the state manages nearly all aspects of public and private lifeaspects of public and private lifePeople do not have personal freedomsPeople do not have personal freedomsNo privacyNo privacyPeople have no say in government decisionsPeople have no say in government decisionsAlmost all choices in your life are made by the Almost all choices in your life are made by the government:government:

JobsJobsSchoolsSchoolsWhere you liveWhere you live

TotalitarianismTotalitarianism

No civil liberties (personal rights)No civil liberties (personal rights)Government makes decisions that are in Government makes decisions that are in their their best interestbest interestThe people don’t have a say in decisions The people don’t have a say in decisions that can impact their livesthat can impact their lives

Problems w/ Problems w/ TotalitarianismTotalitarianism and or and or DICTATORSHIP

Anarchy

Anarchy is a situation where there is no government. This can happen after a civil war in a country, when a government has been destroyed and rival groups are fighting to take its place. Anarchists are people who believe that government is a bad thing in that it stops people organizing their own lives.

Capitalist

In a capitalist or free-market country, people can own their own businesses and property. People can also buy services for private use, such as healthcare. But most capitalist governments also provide their own education, health and welfare services.

Theocracy

From Greek meaning “rule by God”The leader of the country is a political and religious leader.A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique

have power.

Examples – Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.. Iran today?

Oligarchyand or

Communist

In a communist country, the government owns property such as businesses and farms. It provides its people's healthcare, education and welfare.

Revolutionary

If a government is overthrown by force, the new ruling group is sometimes called a revolutionary government.

 Free██ Partly Free██ Not Free2006

In a group of 3 or 4 you are going to create a skit or interactive activity that illustrates one of the types of government:

Representative Republic DemocracyDemocracyAnarchyMonarchyCommunismTheocracyDictatorshipDemocratic Socialism

Everyone must participate in the skit. You have approx. 15min to get ready. Once you are in your groups, I will pass out the rubric we will use to grade your skit.

Now it’s your turn!