list at least four systems of government and explain each

List at least four systems of government and explain each

Pump Primer

CHAPTER 2AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 2: FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

God's power encompasses all forms of government. (Is 33:22)

Biblical Integration


Learning Objectives:• Identify the differences between different forms of government• Understand the American system of government.• Evaluate various forms of government in light of what the Bible revels about

government.2-1:• Compare systems of government.• Explain how the different levels of government interact• Contrast the parliamentary and presidential means of choosing an executive.2-2:• Describe the United States’ scheme of dividing government.• Summarize the different responsibilities accorded to the national, state, and local

governments in the United States.

pp. 13-18CHAPTER 2AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Learning Objectives:

2-3:• Trace the development of democratic principles in both ancient Athens and England.• Identify the Founding Fathers’ contributions to democratic government.• Define and differentiate democracy and republic.

2- 4:• List essential characteristics of a traditional democracy.• Describe the strengths and potential weaknesses of majority rule.

2-5:• List the conditions that contribute to the success of a democracy.• Explain why education is important in a democracy.• Defend the idea that moral responsibility is necessary for the health and strength of a

democracy.


TYPES OF GOVERNMENT

• Systems of Government• Various forms of government• Some operate with and without the

consent of the people

(Keesee 13)


government in which supreme authority is invested in one who rules for life

Monarchy

)Keesee 13)


• Monarchy• Constitutional Monarchy

• Government typically is run by a democratically elected parliament

• Merely a ceremonial head of state• May function along with other governmental bodies like a

senate, deity, or a parliament • Often hereditary

• Dynasty – a crowned prince or princess (one who rules for life)


)Keesee 13)

• Dictatorship• Government acts without the people’s

consent or input• Totalitarian: wielding absolute power

and control• Autocracy: one ruler• Oligarchy: elite group of rulers


• A state of lawlessness or a lack of government• Theory: people do not need a superior force to ensure that they live together peacefully

• Biblical view (of anarchy): impossible, since humans are inherently sinful

Anarchy

p. 14CHAPTER 2AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

The Communist Manifesto was a rebellion against the extreme poverty of the lower class.Ten essentials:• Elimination of Private Property• Heavy Progressive Income Tax• Elimination of Rights of Inheritance• Elimination of Property Rights• Central Bank• Government Ownership of Communication and Transportation• Government Ownership of Factories and Agriculture• Government Control of Labor• Government Control of Education• Corporate Farms and Regional Planning

Communism


a system in which the people participate; political power resides with the people

Popular Government


• Democracy• Direct (pure) democracy: people directly

affect the government’s policies and actions

• Indirect (representative) democracy: people elect representatives to operate the government


• Republic• Power resides with the people or the

representatives they choose• America: a Democratic-Republic


• Unitary Governments• Governmental power resides in the

central government• Receives all its power from the people• Creates local government units to help

administer government


• Federal Governments• Power divided among national, regional,

and local governments• Constitution delegates various powers


• Confederate Governments• Regional governments are supreme and

delegate tasks to national government


Who elects the Executive: the people or the legislature?


• Presidential System• People directly elect the president,

independent of the legislative branch


• Parliamentary system• Majority party in the legislature appoints

the executive head (Prime Minister)


AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

• National Government• Constitution – heart of American

government• Delegated powers

• Three branches: • Legislative• Executive• Judicial


• Legislative Branch• Elected by people• Two Houses of Congress

• House of Representatives• Senate

• Makes the law


• Executive Branch• President

• Chooses the cabinet• Enforces laws passed by the legislative

branch


• Judicial Branch• Supreme Court

• elected or appointed by legislation or governor (CA is appointed & then elected by the people)

• Appellate Courts (Appeals Court)• Superior Courts (Trial Court)• Interprets the law


• State and Local Government• Fifty different states, each with its own

Constitution• Counties, townships, municipalities


A BRIEF HISTORY OF DEMOCRACY

pp. 19-25

Monarchy (rule by one, called kings)

Aristocracy(rule by the “best”)

Oligarchy(rule by the few rich)

Tyranny(bad one-man rule)

Democracy(rule of the

people)

OligarchyTyranny

Vicious Cycle of Political Instability

PATTERN OF CHANGE WITHIN GREEK GOVERNMENT

Greece• The triumph of democracy did not stop the

constant changes within the government.

• The history of Greece exemplifies the instability of a democracy without a constitution.


Rome (Republic incorporated democratic principles)• Collapse of a Republic

• Cause:• Abundance of slaves brought cheap labor• Heavy unemployment• Welfare increased• Rich grew richer and poor grew poorer

• People demanded help from the government• Appeased the people with free food and entertainment

• Civil War erupted • Military dictators restored law & order


England• King John and the Magna Carta (1215)

• “Law of the land”• Due process

• English Bill of Rights (1689)• Followed the Glorious Revolution of

1688


The English Bill of Rights promoted the philosophy that government is responsible for protecting citizens’

lives and property.


• U.S. Founders• Two major issues:

1. How to incorporate democratic ideas into the new American governmen

2. How to make a democratic republic work in a vast territory


• Democratic Ideas• Opposition to a democratic system• Democratic thinking: liberty and equality• Recognition of humans’ sinful nature• Constitution: sets limits

• Bill of Rights


The Constitution limits the power of the governed and the power of the

government.


• FOUNDING FATHERS US Constitution . YouTube.com 5 Oct 2007. Web. 15 Sep 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXJ-q9Z_n-E

• Indirectly elects the president• 538 Votes• Need 270 to win (Winner-take-all system)

Electoral College


• Geographic Scale• Historically, republics and direct

democracies functioned only in very small areas

• United States first to practice it on a large national scale

• Self-government by representation


Was the United States founded as a democracy or as a republic?


CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY

Democracy has been historically understood to mean political

democracy.


• Majority Rule (first democratic principle)• A majority of the electorate makes

decisions that bind the entire electorate• Two Types

1. Popular majority - a majority consisting of a majority of all voting citizens

2. Representative majority - a majority of elected officials


• Reasons favoring majority rule• Better approach than unanimity• The majority is not a fixed, well-defined

group• Majority rule must account for minority

rights


The majority principle must be accompanied by other principles:

Individual equality under the law

Freedom of political action

Shared moral principles


• Equality (second democratic principle)• Political or legal equality

• Equality of justice (Gender, Race, NameIncome, Social Status, Education, or Occupation)

• Equality of the franchise (vote)• Equality of opportunity


What does “equality” mean to you?• Affirmative Action• Education: Public vs. Private• Work place:

• male vs. female• upper class vs. lower class

• Welfare: Illegal citizens vs. legal citizens• Medical

CHAPTER 2

• Liberty (third democratic principle)• Personal Freedom

• Freedom of religion• Freedom of speech (or expression)• Freedom of fear • Freedom of conscience• Freedom of association

• Political Freedom• Right to….

• Vote• Campaign• Hold elective office


Liberty untethered from Christian morality becomes a license

to do evil.


• Necessity of Compromise (fourth democratic principle)

• Sometimes necessary on methods and amoral issues

• Compromising on the truth is never acceptable• A need for discernment• Accommodate man or God?


• Individual Worth (fifth democratic principle)• Each individual is loved by God and

created in His image• Protecting the minority from oppression


CONDITIONS FOR DEMOCRACY

• Opportunity • To improve economically• To expand educationally• To be involved politically• The issue of welfare


• Educated Society• Civic thinking: an understanding of the

political ideas and institutions that shape America’s government, an appreciation for America’s heritage, and an ability to evaluate current issues and national direction


Education is important to the success of a democracy, but

cannot guarantee it.


• Moral Responsibility• Implies submission to the rule of law

• A concern for obeying God• Provides a standard for judging the

majority’s actions• Determines the limits of compromise


Works Cited

Founding Fathers US Constitution . YouTube.com 5 Oct 2007. Web. 15 Sep 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXJ-q9Z_n-E

Schoolhouse Rock. YouTube.com. 6 Mar 2009. Web. 15 Sep 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyIFqf3XH24

list at least four systems of government and explain each

Documents

american system of government

democratic government

systems of government

american governmentchapter

american governmentkeesee

american governmentgovernment

american governmenta

forms of governmentgods