Chapter 1 powerpoint

Essential Question – Unit One

Why should you care about power, politics and government ?

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The United States of America was born in an explosion of rebellion and mistrust against authority.

In the late 1700s many American colonists had lost faith in the British Monarchy’s (government) ability to rule them.

government: institutions and officials organized to make and carry out public policy.

Mistrust of the government did not end with the American victory against the

British in the Revolutionary War. It continues to this day!

authority: the legal right and power to give orders and enforce rules.

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In 2011, more than a thousand Americans were asked this question in an opinion poll .

“How much of the time do you think you can trust the government to do what is right?”

Just about always Most of the time Only some of the time

Three fourths answered, "only some of the time”

Is there a reason why some people have the attitude that the government cannot be trusted?

Is government at its best, in the words of Thomas Paine, “a necessary evil”?

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Is mistrust of government related to who has the power?

power: the ability to make others behave as they might not otherwise choose to.

The power to rule can be gained—or lost—in many ways.

The stories of many countries throughout history are filled with violent overthrows of one government or another and the unending fight for power.

However, the history of the United States Government involves mostly peaceful transfers of power.

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What is power, and how is it used?Power is a difficult concept to define. The sociologist Max Weber defined power as "the possibility of forcing one’s will upon other people.The one thing all countries have in common is that they have leaders (kings, emperors Presidents, etc.) who have the power to rule.

Where do leaders get their power from?

Whatever its source, the power to rule can be used for

both positive or negative purposes.

Governments throughout the ages have relied on a combination of sources of

power.

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Where does the government get its power?

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What is abuse of power?abuse of power: the misuse of authority for harmful, unethical, or illegal ends.• Thomas Paine said that British rule of the

colonies was “a long and violent abuse of power.”

• In his view, “a thirst for absolute power is the natural disease of the monarchy. “

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How is power related to authority?People with the right to use power are said to have authority.

Authority - power or right to command or make final decisions.Authority to rule is sometimes given through tradition.For example, parents have authority over their children. Religious leaders have authority over their congregations.In government, authority to rule is given through formal authority.

formal authority: power to give orders and enforce rules that has been defined in a legal or official way.

The source of their formal authority might be a constitution, a contract, or another legal document.

Can you think of examples of people with formal authority?

School principals, teachers, judges, police officers and presidents.

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What gives a ruler legitimacy?legitimacy: A person or law that is accepted as an authority.

• Leaders whose power and authority are accepted by the people they govern are said to have legitimacy.

• Legitimacy rises and falls depending on the willingness of those being led to follow those doing the leading.

• In the 1500s, powerful European monarchs proclaimed a doctrine of legitimacy, known as the divine right of kings.

Divine Right of the King: idea that European monarchs had a God-given right to rule and deserved absolute power.

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• The English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke introduced the social-contract theory of government. Social Contract theory – legitimacy of a government comes from an unwritten contract between the ruler and the ruled. The people agree to obey a ruler in exchange for the ruler’s promise to protect their rights. A ruler who breaks this contract by abusing power loses legitimacy and should be removed from power.

Besides for the Divine Right of Kings what gives a ruler legitimacy?

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What is the purpose of our government?

Foundations of government include:

1. Maintaining public order2. Protecting life and property 3. Providing public goods (something that everyone has a right to

use and can not be used up)

– Examples roads, schools, libraries, parks

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What powers must a government have to maintain itself?

1. Coercion refers to the various ways in which government can use its power to force citizens to behave in certain ways. – military, police, the courts, and the prison system

2. Revenue Collection – money needed to provide security and pay for public goods. They get that money from the people they govern or control.

For example: taxes

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Who should rule?(few or many)

Government takes many forms.2,000 years ago an ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (father of political science) thought that a government led by one ruler may lead to an abuse of power.He said, “rule by the well-intentioned many would suit most societies.” He called this kind of government a polity.

Aristotle's’ writings influenced the thinking of the founders of the United States.

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Modern Thoughts on Government• nation-state: an independent country in which the

people share a common culture and language All nation-states share these four characteristics:1. Territorial integrity - occupies a specific geographic

territory, with internationally recognized boundaries.2. Stable population - has people living permanently

within its boundaries.3. Code of laws - people of a nation-state agree to live

under a common legal system.4. National sovereignty - independent and self-

governing.

Is the United States a nation- state?

Which political games do people play?

Politicians and citizens who engage in political activity to gain something, are all involved in the

“game of politics.”

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1.1

A

B

C

D

E

1 Horse Trading

2 ______ Walkout

3 ______ Power Struggling

4 _____ Demolition Derby

5 _______Civil Disobedience

Matching Political Games

D

A

E

C

B

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Throughout our history, Americans have tended to be distrustful of power, government, and politics.

• Power - ability to make people act in ways they might not otherwise choose to act. The power to influence others comes from many sources, ranging from formal authority to coercion. It can be used for both good and evil.

• Government - people organize governments to keep order and provide public goods, such as roads and national defense. To accomplish this, governments must have a way to coerce the population and to get revenue from it.

• Politics When people work to influence the decisions made by groups, they are involved in political activity.

Why should you care about power, politics and government? (Summary)