Principles of GovernmentIdentify essential features of a state and describe the theories about the origin of government.

Aristotle & the State

• Aristotle: Ancient Greek scholar, studied Greek city-states, student of gov’t• Politics, democracy, and republic

• The word “state” is derived from the Latin term stare, which means “to stand.”

• A state now means: a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government that answers to no other higher authority.

What's the difference between these concepts?

• A nation-state differs from a "state" or a "nation" for a couple of important reasons: • A nation refers only to a socio-cultural entity, a union of people

sharing who can identify culturally and linguistically. This concept does not necessarily consider formal political unions.

• A state refers to a legal/political entity that is comprised of the following: a) a permanent population; b) a defined territory; c) a government ; and d) the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Examples of “nations” without definite borders

• Kurdistan: is a roughly defined geo-cultural region wherein the Kurdish people form a prominent majority population, and Kurdish culture, language, and national identity have historically been based. Some Kurdish nationalists seek to create an independent nation state of Kurdistan, consisting of some or all of the areas with Kurdish majority

•Let’s now review from Nature of Government what are the Essential Features of a State?

Theories of the Origin of the StateTURN TO PG. 8

Evolutionary Theory

1

They believe the state evolved from the family, which was the basis of govt origin. Monarchy, dynasty, hereditary. Head of family serves as the government. Family grows and expands, so does their power

Force Theory

2Govt emerged as people of an area were brought under the power of one group/person. Cities walled for defense

Divine Right Theory

3

God-given, power is descendant by god, theocracy

Social Contract Theory

4

No govt exists in the state of nature, they must protect the peoplePower of the govt comes from the consent of the people that are governedJohn Locke…Thomas Hobbs

•Let’s now review from Nature of Government what are the Purposes of Government?

• A system of government in the power is in the hands of a single individual is called…

• A system of government in which the power is in the hands of the people is called…

AUTOCRACY

DEMOCRACY

Types of Governments

• You will be making an informative poster for a gallery walk on a type of government, Make Sure to include the information that answers the questions on the chart and also a drawing that illustrates the system.

Anarchy Reading on orange paper

Monarchy Pg. 19

Dictatorship Pg. 18-19

Oligarchy Pg. 19

Direct democracy Pg. 19-20

Indirect (representative) democracy

Pg. 20

• If you need supplemental information on your system other than your book, you may research on the internet