[ 1.1 ] Principles of Government
[ 1.1 ] Principles of Government
Learning Objectives
• Define government and the basic powers every
government holds.
• Describe the four defining characteristics of a
state.
• Identify the four theories that attempt to
explain the origin of the state.
• Understand the purpose of government in the
United States and other countries.
[ 1.1 ] Principles of Government
[ 1.1 ] Principles of Government
The State
Key Terms
• Government
• dictatorship
• public policies
• democracy
• legislative power
• state
• executive power
• sovereign
• judicial power
Every state in the world has four characteristics. Analyze Charts How does the sovereignty of
a State in the U.S. compare to the national sovereignty of the U.S. as a whole?
[ 1.1 ] Principles of Government
[ 1.1 ] Principles of Government
How States Arose
What Government Does
• Form a More Perfect Union
• Establish Justice
• Insure Domestic Tranquility
• Provide for the Common Defense
• Promote the General Welfare
There are four theories as to how the state came to be. Analyze Charts Which of the theories
best describes the origins of the United States? Why?
• Secure the Blessings of Liberty
• Patriotism
Quiz: Government–We the People
Quiz: The State
Review the description of judicial powers. Then choose which of the following is
the best example of judicial powers.
Which of the following sets includes the common characteristics of every State?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Passing laws allowing businesses to merge.
Specifying how much senators should be paid.
Interpreting laws that are controversial among citizens.
Writing regulations about manufacturing safe medicines.
A.
B.
C.
D.
democracy, dictatorship, population, territory
territory, population, government, sovereignty
sovereignty, absolute power, government, democracy
boundaries, government, institutions, public policies
Quiz: How States Arose
Quiz: What Government Does
Which major historical political theory of the origin of the state is most
compatible with the Declaration of Independence?
Which of the following could be considered the most important characteristic in
defining a good citizen?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
force theory
evolutionary theory
social contract theory
divine right of kings theory
being patriotic
serving in the military
reading a daily newspaper
obeying the local traffic laws
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
Learning Objectives
• Classify governments according to three sets of
characteristics.
• Define systems of government based on who
can participate.
• Identify ways that power can be distributed,
geographically, within a state.
• Describe a government by the distribution of
power between the legislative branch and
executive branch.
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
Key Terms
Classifying Governments
• autocracy
• presidential government
• oligarchy
• parliamentary
• unitary government
• federal government
• division of powers
• confederation
• All governments are classified based on three
questions…
• Who can participate in the government?
• What is the geographic distribution of power?
• What is the relationship between the
Legislative Power (making the laws) and
Executive Power (enforcing the laws)?
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
Who Can Participate? Democracy
Who Can Participate? Republic, Dictatorship and Theocracy
• Direct Democracy - Every person can create and
vote on public policies.
• Republic - Government is run by representatives of
the people.
• Direct Democracy doesn’t exist at the national level
anywhere, is only used in small groups.
• Dictatorship / Authoritarian - A single person
(autocracy) or small group of people (oligarchy) run
the government and the people have no say.
• Indirect Democracy - People vote for
representatives to run the government on their
behalf.
• Theocracy - Government based on religious law
• The United States is an Indirect Democracy
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
Geographic Distribution of Power
Geographic Distribution of Power
• Centralized / Unitary Government Only having one
government in a country
• Example - Great Britain
• Central and Local / Federal Government - Having
multiple levels of government (ie National, State and Local)
• Example - United States
• Confederate States - A loose association of sovereign
states
• Example - The European Union
[ 1.2 ] Types of Government
Legislative and Executive Branches
Legislative and Executive Branches
• Presidential or Separation of Powers Between
Branches of Government
• Voters elect a President (Chief Executive) and
Legislature (Congress)separately
• Written Constitution are used to outline the
separations of powers within a government
• Parliamentary Government
• Voters elect a Legislature (parliament), that then
selects a Prime Minister (Chief Executive)
In a presidential democracy, voters elect both the legislative and executive branches of
government. Analyze Charts How is the executive branch related to the legislative branch?
Quiz: Who Can Participate?
Quiz: Geographic Distribution of Power
Which is a feature of a direct democracy?
Which best describes a unitary government?
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
People elect representatives to create public policy.
People transform their will into public policy.
People protest in the streets and at mass meetings.
People are ruled by a single person.
A single person holds unlimited political power.
The power to rule is held by a small group.
The government usually gains power by force.
All powers held by the government belong to a central agency.
Quiz: Legislative and Executive Branches
Which answer most likely explains why some dictatorships adopt features of
democratic governments for example, popular elections and elected legislative
bodies?
A.
B.
C.
D.
to exercise power and promote solidarity
to gain practice with democratic principles
to showcase aspiring political candidates
to appease their people and other nations
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
Learning Objectives
• Understand the foundations of democracy.
• Analyze the connections between democracy
and the free enterprise system.
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
Key Terms
Foundations of Democracy
• majority rule
• American Democracy relies on 5 Basic Concepts
• Compromise
• Worth of the Individual
• citizen
• Equality of All Persons
• free enterprise system
• Majority Rule, Minority Rights
• Necessity of Compromise
• Insistence upon Individual Freedom
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
Democracy and the Free Enterprise System
Responsibilities, Duties, and Obligations of Citizenship
• In order for a democracy to thrive, the citizens
involved must be informed and educated.
• The four pillars are the basis for free enterprise, or
capitalism, in the United States.
• A multitude of news sources are available today
through the internet, television and radio.
• Citizens must use critical thinking skills to make sure
the information they receive is valid and useful.
[ 1.4 ] The Basics of Democracy
Quiz: Foundations of Democracy
Democracy and the Free Enterprise System
Why is compromise important in a democracy?
• Free Enterprise System - An economic system,
not a political system, based on four concepts:
Private Ownership, Individual Initiative, Profit,
and Competition. (aka Capitalism)
• The US has a mixed economy based on the
Free Enterprise System.
• The main role of government in our mixed
economy is to Regulate and Promote the
economy.
A. Compromise is needed to blend and adjust competing views to find the position
most acceptable to the majority.
B. Compromise is needed to help ensure the equality of all persons.
C. Compromise is needed to provide the largest possible degree of individual
freedom.
D. Compromise is needed to ensure that all citizens are satisfied with the current
laws.
Quiz: Responsibilities, Duties, and Obligations of
Citizenship
Quiz: Democracy and the Free Enterprise System
Read the following quote from George Washington: 'The very idea of the power and
right of the People to establish government presupposes the duty of every
individual to obey the established Government.' In Washington's opinion, which of
the following would be required?
How might the government react to a downturn in the economy?
A.
B.
C.
D.
paying taxes
voting
volunteering
understanding government
A. The government might raise taxes to raise funds.
B. The government might take steps to stimulate the economy.
C. The government might revise antitrust laws to promote competition between
businesses.
D. The government might work to make certain supplies scarce to create an
increase in prices.