Gov’t Ch 1.1 January 23, 2013

Government and the State

Standards:

12.1.1Analyze the influence of ancient Greek, Roman, English and leading European political thinkers such as John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, Niccollo Machiavelli, and William Blackstone on the development of American Government.

12.3.4: Compare the relationship of government and civil society in constitutional democracies to the relationship of government and civil society in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes

12.7.5: Explain how public policy is formed, including the setting of the public agenda and implementation of it through regulations and executive orders

Government: institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies (rules)

Public Policy: all of the decisions and policies made by a Government

Three functions of Government:

1.Legislative: to make law

2.Executive: to carry out/execute/enforce law

3.Judicial: to interpret/define law

So lets compare the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial functions of government: (complete on back of notes page)

1.What is the definition?

2.What kind of people perform each function at the city, state, and national level

3.How each function is performed in a criminal trial?

4.What would a good illustration or image of this be?

legislativeexecutivejudicial

1. (def.) 2. (identify) 3. (criminal) 4. (illustration)

State: legal entity, often referred to as a nation or country. It must meet the four following characteristics:

1.Population: a state must have people in it.

2.Territory: a state must have land

3.Sovereignty: a state must be able to exert control over its territory

4.Government: the institution through which society makes and enforces public policy.

Where does the State come from? Why were/are nations created? There are 4 basic theories:

Force: one person or a small group of people claimed control over an area and forced it to submit to their will.

How would a government following the force theory protect property rights? Who would keep, use, or control the property?

Evolutionary: The state evolved from a family structure

How would a government following the evolutionary theory of government protect property rights? Who would keep, use, or control the property?

Divine Right: God created the government and set the rulers up in order to govern.

(Basing rule on “Divine Right” was practiced in Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, China, Pre-Columbian America, and all over the rest of the world).

In Europe, where did rulers get the justification for the “Divine Right of Kings?”

Romans 13: 1-2

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

In Europe, where did rulers get the justification for the “Divine Right of Kings?”

1st Peter 2:13-17 NIV

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

How would a government following the divine right theory protect property rights? Who would keep, use, or control the property?

Social Contract: Government exists as a contract between all members of society, in which all give up certain unnecessary freedoms in exchange for protection of the most essential rights.

How would a government following the social contract theory protect property rights? Who would keep, use, or control the property?

Type and e-mail the answer to this question: mwalter@rusdlearns.net

In which of the four ways (force, evolutionary, divine right, social contract) was the United States formed/created? Give examples using your knowledge of US history.

What is something the government (State, Federal or Local) requires us to give up?

What is something the government (State, Federal or Local) guarantees to us?

(I’ll give you time to share with your neighbor first)

Concerning the Social Contract Theory—we give power to the government in order to protect us and give us that which we need.

Does the social contract theory work?

What do we expect our Government to provide for us?

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States.”

--Preamble to the Constitution

Functions of Government:

Functions of Government:

1.Form a more perfect (complete) union. (unified nation)

Functions of Government:

1.Form a more perfect (complete) union. (unified nation)

2.Establish (guarantee) justice

Functions of Government:

1.Form a more perfect (complete) union. (unified nation)

2.Establish (guarantee) justice

3.Insure domestic tranquility (guarantee peace here)

Functions of Government:

1.Form a more perfect (complete) union. (unified nation)

2.Establish (guarantee) justice

3.Insure domestic tranquility (guarantee peace here)

4.Provide for the common defense (defend the nation).

Functions of Government:

5.Promote the general welfare (improve the lives of the general population).

Functions of Government:

5.Promote the general welfare (improve the lives of the general population).

6.Secure the blessings of liberty (make sure everyone is free) to ourselves (us) and our posterity (our descendents)