an introduction to government ??? what is government??? government = an institution through which...
TRANSCRIPT
??? What IS Government???
• Government =
an institution through which society makes and enforces laws
HUMAN NATURE
• If people are naturally competitive, what do we need government to do?
• If people are naturally cooperative, what do we need government to do?
What is the best type of Gov’t?
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
1) Autocracy
• Type of government in which ONE PERSON has TOTAL POWER.
When I say, “Jump,” you say, “How High?”
Types of Autocracies
• Monarchy: gov’t led by one hereditary ruler (a Monarch)
• Ex: King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia
•Dictatorship: gov’t led by one ruler who takes power by force (a Dictator)
•Ex: Kim Jong-Il/N. Korea
Hu Jintao/China
Two Types of Democracies
a) Direct Democracy: all citizens vote on every decision for the state (majority rules)ex. Ancient Greece/Athens
b) Republic (a.k.a. Indirect Democracy): citizens vote for leaders who make decisions for the state
ex. United States
3) Constitutional Monarchy
• A form of government in which a monarch shares power with elected representatives
• King/Queen: the monarch holds executive power (enforces the laws)
• Parliament: the elected representatives hold legislative power (make the laws)
• Example: United Kingdom (Britain)
What Do Gov’ts Do???
• GOVERNMENTS: THEY RULE STATES
• State: a group of people that live in a defined territory who organize their power and are not ruled by a higher authority.
• Another word for “country”; U.S. states do not fit this definition
1) Population: must have people
2) Territory: land w/ boundaries
3) Sovereignty: supreme/absolute power over own territory
4) Government: political organization to make and enforce rules for society
4 Characteristics of a State
HOW DID GOV’TS GET STARTED?
• Four Theories on the Origin of Gov’t:
1) Force Theory: one person/group took over an area and its people.
2) Evolution Theory
• The state developed out of the family unit. • Families joined to form clans.• Clans joined to form tribes.• Tribes joined to form states.
3) Divine Right Theory• An old-timey belief• States created by God. • God gave “Divine Right” to rule the state to a
certain family.• People should obey the royal family as they
would God.