Foundations of Government Chapter One. Purposes and Origins of Government.

Foundations of Government

Chapter One

Purposes and Origins of Government

What do you think is the purpose of the government?

The Functions of Government

Legitimate and functioning governments create order, protect people, and give them ways to settle disagreements fairly and peacefully

Governments Provide:

Leadership- set priorities and make decisions on the behalf of people, some may they might not do voluntarily

Examples: taxes, natural resources, and war

Maintain Order- governments try and control and contain conflict between people by placing limits on what individuals are permitted to do

Examples: laws, police security, court system

Public Services- promote public health and safety Examples: schools, roads, housing codes, driving tests

National Security- protect people from attacks by other countries or terrorists

Economic Security and Assistance- governments negotiate trade deals and try and protect businesses and their peoples welfare

Examples: NAFTA, food stamps

Nation, State, and Country

Essential features of a state:

Population- must have people

Territory- established boundaries

Sovereignty- complete independence and power within its borders

Government- someone in charge

Origins of the State

Evolutionary Theory- the notion that the state evolved from the family. Heads of ancient tribes and families served as authority over the group

Force Theory- states emerged when people needed to cooperate to survive but could only become organized when one or more people took control

Divine Right Theory- the state exists to serve god, who chooses their leaders

Social Contract Theory- state exists to protect and serve their people

Thomas Hobbes- people surrender freedoms to the state to get order and security

John Locks- people have natural rights and the government promises to preserve them

Processing:

Hold up the correct letter which corresponds to the descriptions of each theory

F= Force Theory

D= Divine Right Theory

S= Social Contract Theory

E= Evolutionary Theory

The State exists to serve the will of the people.Social Contract Theory

A strong leader was the origin of the stateForce Theory

Religion is the basis of authorityDivine Right Theory

Life for the early people was “nasty, brutish, and short”Social Contract Theory

The primitive family was the first form of governmentEvolutionary Theory

The seizure of power was the first act of governmentForce Theory

Rulers are chosen by GodDivine Right Theory

In earliest history, people lived in a “state of nature”Social Contract Theory

Might make rightForce Theory

Family ties were the basis of the early stateEvolutionary Theory

The state arose from the voluntary acts of free peopleSocial Contract Theory

Clans grew into tribes, and tribes grew into stateEvolutionary Theory

People voluntarily give to government certain rightsSocial Contract Theory

The weak give way to the strongForce Theory

Types of Government

Systems of Government

Unitary System- all key powers are in the central government, the only powers that the states or local governments have are expressly given by the central government

Example: Japan, France, Bolivia

Confederate System- a loose union of independent and sovereign states with a weak central power

Example: Micronesia

Federal System- the central government shares power among different levels of government

Example: USA, Brazil

Constitutional Governments

A constitution, or plan for government, serves several purposes:

It sets out ideas that the people bound by the constitution believe in and share

It establishes the basic structure of government and defines the governments powers and duties

Provides a supreme law of the country

The U.S. has the oldest written constitution (1787)

A constitutional government is a limited government

Constitutions are incomplete guides because no constitution can spell out every law, customs and ideas

Some countries do not follow their Constitutions (ex: China)

Essential Government Questions

Who governs?

Who or what gives the government power?

Who benefits from government?

What to be produced?

How should goods and services be produced?

Who gets the goods and services that are produced?

Essential Economic Questions

Activity: Gallery Walk

In small groups, create a Frayer Model over a type of government and economic systems

Dictatorship

Oligarchy

Monarchy

Autocracy

Parliamentary

Direct democracy

Representative democracy

Capitalism

Socialism

Communism

Definition Characteristics

Picture Real Life Example

Type of Government or

Economy

Level of Freedom

Least Free Most Free

What words do we use to describe the United States Government?

UNITED

STATES

Democracy

Presidential democracy

Indirect democracy

Republic

Representative Democracy

Democracy

Federal

National

Constitutional Republic

What are three principles (characteristics) of our U.S democracy?

Principles of Democracy

1. Citizen Participation- debates, voting, serving in military, paying taxes, jury duty, etc.

2. Regular Free and Fair Elections- regardless of race, gender, wealth, and all votes are counted equally

3. Accepting the Results of Elections- peaceful transfer of power

4. the Rule of Law- everyone follows and is accountable for the law

5. Majority Rule with Minority Rights- democracies are politically tolerant and protect those not in power

6. Accountability- representatives rule in accordance to their constituents, not themselves

7. Transparency- the people are able to get information about what decisions are being made

Principles of Democracy

8. Limited government and a Bill of Rights- limits the power of the government and expresses freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

9. Control of the Abuse of Power- a system of checks and balances and outside independent auditors

10. Economic Freedom- allows outside and private ownership of business and property

11. Equality- individuals and groups have equal rights and protection to have different cultures, personalities, languages and beliefs

12. Individual or Human Rights- democracies respect and protect the dignity of all people

13. Independent Judiciary- courts and the judicial system should be fair and impartial

14. Competing Political Parities- more than one political party must participate in elections and play a role in government

L- Assessment: Create Your Own State Travel Brochure

1. A map- Make sure to name your country

Be sure to include territory (draw a picture of your imaginary country), population (where do the people live), and government (capitol city)

2. Origin of your state- describe how your country came to be

Be sure to include which theory it follows

3. How is your governments power distributed (What system of Government)?

4. Who gets to participate in your government?

5. What is the relationship between the branches of government?

6. What is the economic system your country has?

Each number is a section of your brochure.

Make sure to include a picture and explain in detail about each number.

Look at the rubric to make sure you get the best possible grade.

K- Assessment: Create Your Own State Travel Brochure

1. A map- Make sure to name your country

Be sure to include territory (draw a picture of your imaginary country), population (where do the people live), and government (capitol city)

2. Origin of your state- describe how your country came to be

Be sure to include which theory it follows

3. How is your governments power distributed (What system of Government)?

4. Who gets to participate in your government?

5. What is the relationship between the branches of government?

6. What is the economic system your country has?

Each number is a section of your brochure.

Make sure to include a picture and explain in detail about each number.

Look at the rubric to make sure you get the best possible grade.