Constitution
Lesson 1
Question: What would it be like if there were no
gove
government???
e ???
1. Government – an institution in which a society makes and
enforces public policies
policies.
-made up of people who exercise power and authority
over others.
- Public Policies – everything a govt. decides to do
(ex. taxes, defense, etc.)
-created when people needed to regulate each other’s
conduct. (Egypt Æ 6th Century B.C)
2 State
2.
St t – body
b d off people
l living
li i in
i a defined
d fi d territory,
t it
with
ith a
govt.
- can create and enforce laws without consent from any
higher authority.
- 190 states in world today Æ very different, but all have…
1. population
2. territory
3. sovereignty
g y
4. government
A. Population -- a state must have people
- China 11.3
3 billion
- India 960 million
- U.S. 300 million
- San Marino ((by
y Italy)
y) onlyy 30,000
,
B. Territory -- land
- San Marino = 24 sq. miles
- U.S.
U S = 3.7
3 7 million sq.
sq miles
- Russia = 6.6. million sq. miles
C. Sovereignty – power within territory
1. decide foreign and domestic policy
2. determine form of govt.
3. people (democracy) or 1 person (dictator) can be
sovereign.
D. Government
1. Politically organized
2. Rules the state Æ can force people to accept rule
Origins of the State
A Force Theory
A.
- one person or group claimed control and forced the people
to submit.
TEST
T
B Evolutionary Theory
B.
- developed from early family structure. Æ one person
is head of the family = govt.
C Divine Right Theory
C.
- God gave “royals” the right to rule
- opposition was a sin.
y civilizations
- foundation of many
D. Social Contract Theory
- Humans are free – not under anyone's authority
-John Locke & Jean Jacques
q
Rousseau
- agree to create a state in order to keep peace
Locke
- state has just enough power to create general
well
ll being.
b i
- popular sovereignty – people vote on issues, leaders, etc.
-- limited govt., ind. rights
U.S. constitution
was created with
this in mind.
Purpose of Government
1. Form a More Perfect Union
- states united are stronger than individual
2 E
2.
Establish
t bli h Justice
J ti
- the law must be reasonable, fair, and impartial
Rousseau
3. Insure Domestic Tranquility
- keep order at home
4. Provide Common Defense
- defend against foreign enemies
- defense is mentioned in const. more than anything
y
g else
5. Promote General Welfare
- schools, EPA, transportation
6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty
- individual freedoms Æ very important
- no one is free to do “anything” he/she wants
“You can only be free if I am free.” - Clarence Darrow
- even so, people are guaranteed rights in the const.