Principles of Government Magruder Chapter One. Government and the State Section One.

Principles of Government

Magruder Chapter OneMagruder Chapter One

Government and the State

Section OneSection One

What is Government?

Government makes and enforces public Government makes and enforces public policies.policies.

Government consists of lawmakers, Government consists of lawmakers, administrators, and judges.administrators, and judges.

Four Characteristics of a State

PopulationPopulation A state consists of peopleA state consists of people Largest country – China – 1.3 billionLargest country – China – 1.3 billion Smallest country – Vatican – 800 peopleSmallest country – Vatican – 800 people


TerritoryTerritory A state must have landA state must have land


SovereigntySovereignty Sovereign states determine their own Sovereign states determine their own

form of governmentform of government


GovernmentGovernment Government consists of the machinery Government consists of the machinery

and personnel by which the state is ruled.and personnel by which the state is ruled.

Origins of the State

The Force TheoryThe Force Theory A person or group forced control over an A person or group forced control over an

area and peoplearea and people


The Evolutionary TheoryThe Evolutionary Theory States originated in the familyStates originated in the family


The Divine Right TheoryThe Divine Right Theory God gave individuals or groups the right God gave individuals or groups the right

to ruleto rule


The Social Contract TheoryThe Social Contract Theory People agreed to give up power to the People agreed to give up power to the

state in return for the state’s service to the state in return for the state’s service to the general well-being of the people.general well-being of the people.

The Purpose of Government

Found in the Preamble of the United States Found in the Preamble of the United States ConstitutionConstitution

To Form a More Perfect UnionTo Form a More Perfect Union In union there is strengthIn union there is strength

To Establish JusticeTo Establish Justice The law should be administered The law should be administered

reasonably, fairly, and impartiallyreasonably, fairly, and impartially


To Insure Domestic TranquilityTo Insure Domestic Tranquility Without order, people would live in Without order, people would live in

anarchyanarchy Provide for the Common DefenseProvide for the Common Defense

The state’s security rests on wise defense The state’s security rests on wise defense and foreign policiesand foreign policies


To Promote the General WelfareTo Promote the General Welfare The state has a responsibility to provide a The state has a responsibility to provide a

variety of public servicesvariety of public services To Secure the Blessings of LibertyTo Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Freedom is necessary for a democracyFreedom is necessary for a democracy

Forms of Government

Section TwoSection Two

Classifying Governments

No two governments are alikeNo two governments are alike Governments are classified in order to Governments are classified in order to

analyze themanalyze them

Geographic Distribution of Power

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government Power is held in a single, central agencyPower is held in a single, central agency Can create lower levels of government Can create lower levels of government

and can remove them at any timeand can remove them at any time All final decisions are made by the All final decisions are made by the

central governmentcentral government Examples are Great Britain, France, ItalyExamples are Great Britain, France, Italy


Federal GovernmentFederal Government Powers are divided between a central Powers are divided between a central

agency and several local governmentsagency and several local governments Each state government is specifically Each state government is specifically

protected within a written constitutionprotected within a written constitution Both levels can make final decisionsBoth levels can make final decisions Examples are the US, Canada, GermanyExamples are the US, Canada, Germany


Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government The central government has limited The central government has limited

power with the most important authority power with the most important authority reserved for member statesreserved for member states

States control the vast majority of the States control the vast majority of the powerpower

Examples are the US under the Articles Examples are the US under the Articles and the Confederate States of Americaand the Confederate States of America

Legislature and Executive

Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government Executive and Legislative branches are Executive and Legislative branches are

independent and co-equalindependent and co-equal Cannot serve in both at the same timeCannot serve in both at the same time One cannot dissolve the otherOne cannot dissolve the other

Legislature and Executive

Parliamentary governmentParliamentary government Members of the Executive Branch are Members of the Executive Branch are

also members of the Legislative Branchalso members of the Legislative Branch One branch can remove the other if the One branch can remove the other if the

need arisesneed arises

Number Who Can Participate

DictatorshipDictatorship Participation in government is limited to Participation in government is limited to

the individual or group who rulesthe individual or group who rules Democracy Democracy

The people hold the power and give The people hold the power and give consent to the government to ruleconsent to the government to rule

Basic Concepts of Democracy

Section ThreeSection Three

The Five Basic Concepts

The Foundations of DemocracyThe Foundations of Democracy The fate of American democracy rests on The fate of American democracy rests on

the people’s acceptance of certain basic the people’s acceptance of certain basic concepts.concepts.

The acceptance of the basic concepts of The acceptance of the basic concepts of democracy presents Americans with democracy presents Americans with problems and challenges.problems and challenges.


Fundamental Worth of the IndividualFundamental Worth of the Individual Democracy insists on the worth and Democracy insists on the worth and

dignity of all.dignity of all. Sometimes the welfare of one person Sometimes the welfare of one person

must be subordinated to the interests of must be subordinated to the interests of the many.the many.


Equality of All PersonsEquality of All Persons Democracy insists on the equality of Democracy insists on the equality of

opportunity.opportunity. Democracy insists on equality before the Democracy insists on equality before the

law.law.


Majority Rule and Minority RightsMajority Rule and Minority Rights Democracy argues that the majority will Democracy argues that the majority will

be right more often than wrong.be right more often than wrong. Democracy searches for satisfactory Democracy searches for satisfactory

solutions to public problems.solutions to public problems. The majority must recognize the right of The majority must recognize the right of

the minority to become the majority.the minority to become the majority.


Necessity for CompromiseNecessity for Compromise Compromise allows citizens to make Compromise allows citizens to make

public decisions.public decisions. Compromise is not an end in itself but a Compromise is not an end in itself but a

means to reach a public goal.means to reach a public goal.


Individual FreedomIndividual Freedom Freedom cannot be absolute, or anarchy Freedom cannot be absolute, or anarchy

will result.will result. American democracy strives to strike a American democracy strives to strike a

balance between liberty and authority.balance between liberty and authority.

Principles of Government Magruder Chapter One. Government and the State Section One.

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