foundations of american government the american citizen

Foundationsof

AmericanGovernment

The American Citizen

Section 1: Government and the State

Main Questions answered in this section:

1.What are the main characteristics of states?

2.What are the different theories about government?

A Government is a body A Government is a body that has the authority to that has the authority to make and the power to make and the power to enforce laws within a civil, enforce laws within a civil, corporate, religious, corporate, religious, academic, or other academic, or other organization or group.organization or group.

States in the Modern World Modern equivalent of the polisis the state – an independent political unit – most often called - nation

- country - nation-state

States in the Modern World

Today, there are 191 states in the United Nations – each of them has 4 basic

characteristics -

Four main characteristics of a state (or nation, or country) – it must have

Characteristics of nation-states


Government

public policy -- any course of government action directed toward a local, state or national goal -- a government’s plan of action

A government term to know…

In order to make public policy,

governments must have three things --

1. authority - the right to make

decisions that others will follow 2. power - ability to make people accept rules and policies

3. legitimacy - governmental power and authority accepted by the people as correct, right, appropriate

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Origins of Government … it all started over

5,000 years ago...

Theories of governmentSome scholars, historians thought/theorized: -The state was a natural stage in evolution of human society.Government grew out of family relationships between parentsand children(evolutionary theory)

their “children” – the people of

the state.

Theories of government

In this view – rulers were seen as “parents” – with authority to guide and punish

Theories of government- Another theory of Another theory of how government how government developed developed suggested suggested a strong a strong leader or group took leader or group took control of the state.control of the state.

(Force theory)(Force theory)


Strong leaders wouldtake power by force, create myths and legends proving theywere “superior” and their rule could not be challenged

Divine Right

The theory of governmentwhich holds that royal power

comes from God

Theories of governmentThe Theory of the

Social Contract

First theory of governmentto acknowledge the peoplethemselves had any rights or powers.

The Social Contract


English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote

"Leviathan"

Thomas Hobbes wrote in "Leviathan," that...

the earliest humans lived in a "state of nature" but came together to create a state – a government – to improve their "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short“ lives.

Thomas Hobbes – "Leviathan”

Cover Illustration

John Locke

notable because

of his beliefthat people have "natural rights," including the right to life, liberty and property.

English, 1632-1704

John Locke If ruler did not protect the

people’s “natural rights,”

he or she had broken the social contract…

then, people would be free to set up a NEW social contract

(new government)

American colonial leaders American colonial leaders read read Locke’s writings - Locke’s Locke’s writings - Locke’s view of the view of the social contractsocial contract and and ““natural rightsnatural rights””helps lead to American helps lead to American Revolution and becameRevolution and became principles of U.S. principles of U.S. government.government.

John Locke

Purpose of Government•Maintain Social orderMaintain Social order – government is – government is needed because people cannot live in needed because people cannot live in groups without conflict. groups without conflict. •Provide Public ServicesProvide Public Services –government –government promotes public safety and health. promotes public safety and health. •Providing National SecurityProviding National Security – government – government is needed to protect the people against is needed to protect the people against attacks from other states. attacks from other states. •Making Economic Decisions-Making Economic Decisions- gov’t pass gov’t pass laws that shape economic environment of laws that shape economic environment of the nation. the nation.

Section 2 Forms of Government

The answer to the question, “Where’s the power?” will be one of these three –

• At the national level • At the state level • At both national and state levels

“Where’s the power?”

ANARCHY

• No government, so no one rules.

• Comes from the Greek Word “avapxia” meaning “no anchors, no rulers.

• Believe government is both harmful and unnecessary.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Anarchy-symbol.svg

If the power is located at the national level, the government is called a UNITARY government.


Centralized PowerUnitary Government

The central (national) government has authority over all political subdivisionswithin the nation-state. There is, essentially, just one government. Examples: Great Britain, France, Japan, China

Unitary Government

Main advantage to this: consistent, uniform policies

Main disadvantage - it’s usually inflexible, because alldecisions are made “at the top”

If the power is located at the state level, the government iscalled a CONFEDERATE government, or a CONFEDERATION.


Sovereign StatesThe Confederation• Two or more independent states join together to achievecommon goals. • Each state retains own sovereignty, gives limited power to the national government.

The Confederation Main advantage - offers greater power at local levels of government Main disadvantages - it’s usually unstable; has difficulty maintaining national unity, national identity and purpose

Examples of confederacies:

United States during Articles of Confederation

(1776 to 1787)

Southern states during U.S. Civil War – “Confederate States

of America” – 1860 to 1865

If the power is located at both national and state levels (divided between them), the government is called a FEDERAL government, or a FEDERATION.


Federalism / Federal System Main advantages - enables strong national government to solve common problems; states and local govts retain some powers over local problems Examples: Canada,

Australia, India, Mexico,

Switzerland, Germany

If the question, “Who has the power?” is asked, the answer will be one of these three –

1. One person has the power 2. A group has the power 3. The people – all of them – have the power

Who has the power?

Who has the power? Aristotle gave names tothree basic kinds of rule --• autocracy - rule by one person• oligarchy - rule by a small group • democracy - rule by the people

Autocracy

Most common form ofautocracy throughout history has been a monarchy –a king or queen acts as the supreme power of government.

Autocracy

Today - most monarchies are constitutional monarchies – rulers share authority with elected legislatures and must follow rules, laws, constitutions. +

Autocracy Dictatorship - another form of autocracy -- leadership of the state is acquired and maintained by fear & force. Power is usually held through police, military. Freedoms are limited.

Three Main Characteristics of Dictatorships

1.Gain power legally during times of crisis, when people are willing to accept a strongruler as a necessity.

2. Maintain power through suppression of opposition and strict controls on people’s lives.

3 Main Characteristics of Dictatorships

3 Main Characteristics of Dictatorships

3. Acquire and maintain leadership through fear and force

TWO DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Is fear a stronger emotion than love?

• Can a good leader be bad?

Oligarchy Rule by a small group, based on

• wealth (plutocracy) • social position (aristocracy)

• religious leaders (theocracy)

• military leaders (junta) • Communist countries – power rests with top party members called a politburo

Junta A small group of military officers who seize a state and establish their own government – a kind of oligarchy

Democracies(from the Greek: demos, “the people”; kratein, “to rule”) -- democratic governments are selected by the nation-state’s adult citizens and respond to their wishes

DemocraciesTwo types of democracy:

• direct democracy • indirect, or representative democracy

DemocraciesDirect democracy -- all citizens have a chance to participate in government on a first-hand basis Examples: ancient Greek city-states, New England town meetings

Democracies

Representative democracy – (indirect democracy) – people elect a relatively small group of citizens to represent them in making laws and establishing public policies

Democracies

So, is the U.S.A. a republic or a democracy ? To be exact… a nation with a representative democracy is called a republic.

THAT’S US!

Section 3Basic Conceptsof Democracy

Main questions to be Main questions to be answered in this section:answered in this section:1. What are the basic 1. What are the basic concepts on which concepts on which American democracy was American democracy was built?built?2. How does the operation 2. How does the operation of American government of American government illustrate these concepts?illustrate these concepts?

Basic Principles ofAmerican Democracy

The 3 basic rights of individuals include –

• belief in “individual worth” • respect for individual liberties (civil liberties) • respect for rights of citizens (civil rights)

Belief in “individual worth” is the principle that Americans have the right to decide for themselves... where they will live what books they will read what opinions they will hold what work they will do

Principles of American Democracy


Respect for individualliberties – civil liberties – isthe freedom to choose without undue interference from government


Examples of civil liberties -

guarantees freedom of speech,press, or religion; due processof law; and other limitationson the power of the state to restrain or dictate the actions of individuals.


Respect for the right of citizens to equal treatment by government, and equal opportunity under the law is called civil rights.


Examples of civil rights – • every citizen’s right to vote is protected • each person’s vote counts equally • laws are applied fairly • government does not discriminate against certain people or groups


Civil rights also means“equality of opportunity” – every individual has an equalchance to develop to his or hermaximum capabilities, without discrimination.


The 4 basic political ideals of American democracy are –

1. rule by law 2. limits on government power 3. representative government 4. majority rule withminority rights

• No person is above the law, No person is above the law, regardlessregardless

of their wealth or status of their wealth or status • Any person who breaks the lawAny person who breaks the law

will be treated as any other citizenwill be treated as any other citizen

Political ideal #1: Rule by law


• Laws must be made public so all can know them

Rule by law

•All persons are restricted by the “chains of the Constitution” (Thomas Jefferson)

Political ideal #2: Limits on government power (referred to as limited government)• Limits on government powerare set into U.S. Constitutionand state constitutions


• Limiting the power ofgovernment helps to ensurethe protection of civil liberties and civil rights


Limited government

Political ideal #3: Representative government

• people have the right to elect their leaders

• people have the right to free and fair elections

• people have the right to not vote


Political ideal #4: MajorityRule With Minority Rights

•people agree to abide by decisions of the majority of citizens – but --


. . .this also means that the rights . . .this also means that the rights of citizens in minority are respected, of citizens in minority are respected, including right including right • to speak against government to speak against government and its policies and its policies • to hold opposing views to hold opposing views • to vote against majority viewsto vote against majority views

Political ideal #4: Majority RulePolitical ideal #4: Majority Rule With Minority Rights With Minority Rights

foundations of american government the american citizen

Documents

origins of government

course of government

state of nature

main characteristics

state main questions

basic characteristics

beliefthat people

peoples natural rights