American Government

Principals of GovernmentSetting Our Semester StageWhat Is Government?Definition: an institution through which a society makes and enforces public policies (that is that things governments decide to do)3 Basic PowersLegislative: Creates LawsExecutive: Enforces LawsJudicial: Interprets LawsGovernments have ConstitutionsBody of fundamental laws setting out the principals, structures, & processes of governmentPower is held by one or a small group of people (dictatorship) or by a majority of the population (democracy)

GovernmentOne of the oldest human institutionsHumans have need of being regulatedFirst record in 6th Century B.C. Egypt2300 years ago the Greek scholar Aristotle wroteman by nature is a political animal

The StateDefinition: a body of people living together in a defined territory, organized politically with a government, which has the power to make and enforce laws without the consent of a higher authority

190 Global StatesAll have FOUR things in commonPopulationTerritorySovereigntyGovernment

PopulationA state must have a populationSize of the population does not determine the existence of a stateWorlds Smallest State: Vatican City (Pop. 800)Worlds Largest State: the PRC, China (Pop. 1.3 Billion)The U.S. ranks third with over 300 million peoplePopulations may or may not be homogeneousLanguage, culture, religion, etc. may all be the same or differentDoes the U.S. have a homogeneous or heterogeneous population?

TerritoryA state must have land with recognized boundariesVatican Citys area: 0.2 miles squareRussias area: 6.6 million miles squareThe U.S. total area: >3.8 million miles square

SovereigntySupreme and absolute power within its borders and can decide its own foreign and domestic policiesStates can establish their own frame of government, economic systems, etc.Distinguishing characteristic over lesser political unitsExample:The United States are not sovereign in a legal, international senseSubordinate to the U.S. Constitution

GovernmentPolitical organization = A governmentEntity in which the state exerts its power to accomplish goalsIncludes both the people and machinery that help rule Government is to provide protection, services, and care for its peopleThomas Hobbes wrote:the war of every man against every man[without government]continual fear and danger of violent death and life [would be] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

Major Political IdeasScholars have debated how governments first came into existenceFour Main TheoriesForceEvolutionaryDivine RightSocial Contract

All must have: Population, Territory, Sovereignty, & a Government

Force & EvolutionaryThe Force TheoryOne person or a small group capture/control a small area and subjugate the inhabitantsThe Evolutionary TheoryDeveloped out of the familyFamily head was the governmentOver time network of related families come togetherThe CLANMore families merge into a TribeAgricultural living made for stationary living and the state was born

Divine RightA supreme being created that state and gave the divine right to rule to those of royal birthObeying the ruler is obeying the god(s)Disobedience is treason and a sinAncient China, Egypt, Central & South AmericaJapan held this belief until 1945Western European traditional until the late 18th CenturyAge of EnlightenmentAmerican and French Revolutions

Social ContractArose VoluntarilyBefore the state people lived in a State of NatureOnly had themselvesPeople gave up power to the state and established a constitutionState was to serve the peopleThe population had the power to give and take power from the stateInfluenced Revolutionary AmericaDeclaration of IndependencePopular Sovereignty, Limited Government, & Individual Rights

The Purpose of GovernmentWe the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, 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 of America

-Preamble to the ConstitutionForm A More Perfect UnionU.S. faced challenges in the Post-Revolutionary Years1781, Articles of Confederation establishedMeant to create a, firm league of friendship:Only created thirteen individual countriesThe Government was powerless1787, Constitution createdLinked states togetherUnity created strength

Establish JusticeJefferson wrote that justice was, the most sacred of the duties of government.Justice is a concept, an idea, and an inventionThe Law must be reasonable, fair, and impartialThis has not always been metMartin Luther King Jr. said,Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Insure Domestic TranquilityOrder is essential to a societyPeace at home is a prime function of our governmentWith anarchy a state cannot functionExamples of Times of AnarchyFrench Revolution (Late 1700s), Somalia & Egypt TodayThe Federalist No. 51 Madison wroteIf men were angels, no government would be necessary

Provide For The Common DefenseNation defense is a major responsibilityMentioned more than any other function in the ConstitutionDefense and foreign policy go hand-in-handU.S. is powerful but it must remain vigilant and armed

Promote The General WelfareThe Government is the servant of the citizenryProvides public school, Social Security, medical care, & clean air, water, and foodThese programs benefit all if not most of the peopleProvides services that may or may not be provided by a private investor or company

Secure The Blessings Of LibertyLiberty is not absoluteNo one is completely free to do what he or she wantsYour actions cannot interfere with the liberty of othersEvery generation must learn and understand the guarantees of libertyPatriotismProtection of the homeland or its rightsGood citizenshipJefferson wrote,Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty

Governmental ClassificationsClassificationsEach government is differentThree Classifications that all governments are compared to:Who can participate in the governmental processGeographic distribution of governmental powerRelationship between the Legislative & Executive branches

Who Can ParticipatePopulace participation is known as DemocracyGreek demos the people and kratia rulePolitical authority rests with the peopleThe government is conducted with the peoples consentTwo kinds of DemocracyDirectIndirect

Direct DemocracyKnown as a pure democracyThe people meet in mass to discuss issuesEveryone eligible to vote has a say and casts a ballotWorks in small communitiesExists in at the local government level in New England

Indirect DemocracyKnown as a representative democracyElected officials express the popular willDeal with day to day governmental functionsElections are held periodicallyVotes express approval or disapprovalGovernment of popular consentSystem found in the U.S.Also known as a Republic or a Democratic Republic

DictatorshipLeaders are not held responsible for actionsProbably the oldest form of governmentTwo Kinds:Autocracy-Rule by a single personOligarchy-Rule by a self-appointed group of eliteUsually Authoritarian & TotalitarianNazi Germany, Communist Russia, Iraq, the PRCTotal control is rareInfluence of military, religious groups, industrialists, etc.

ContinuedElections are held but closely monitored and controlledMilitaristic in nature with little fear of using forceUse of military and police

Geographic Distribution Of PowerUnitary GovernmentCentralized power held by a single central agencyCentral agency creates local government entitiesPower given and taken by central groupGreat BritainParliament holds the powerLocal governments relieves the burden of Parliament Unitary style but also democratic

Federal GovernmentCentral government with several local governments established independentlyDivision of PowersUnited States ExampleNational Government has powers and so do the StatesPowers are set by the ConstitutionState governments are Unitary and not FederalConfederate GovernmentAlliance of independent statesGovernment has limited power (limited government)States can choose matters to take interest in

ContinuedThe European UnionFounded in 1993Currently 28 member statesCommon currency (GB is the exception) and trade networksCoordinates foreign and domestic policiesStill independent countries

Relationship Between The Leg. & Ex. BranchesPresidential GovernmentSeparation of PowersIndependent but coequal in Leg. & Ex.President chosen independently of the LegislatureFixed TermsNumber of significant powersSystem of Checks and BalancesPowers expressed through the ConstitutionThe U.S. is the leading exampleMostly found in the Western Hemisphere

Parliamentary GovernmentHead of the government is the Prime Minister or Premier and their cabinet Ex. is a member of the Leg. BranchPM is the head of the leading party in Leg.Chosen by Leg. assembly Ex. holds power as long as he/she has the approval of the Leg.Vote of no confidencePM and cabinet resignLeg. or the people reelect parliamentFound in the majority of the worldPrevents conflicts and dead locksCon: No system of Checks and Balances

Concepts of DemocracyConceptsDemocracy does not exist simply because it is the best systemIt exists because we allow it toBasic ConceptsWorth of the IndividualEquality of all PersonsMajority Rule, Minority RightsNecessity of CompromiseIndividual Freedom

Worth Of The IndividualFundamental importance of the individualEveryone is a separate, distinct beingIndividual welfare can be subordinate to that of the manyWe are forced to pay taxes, register for the draft (males), or stop at a stoplightServes the interests of the many

Equality Of All PersonsHand-in-hand to the worth of the individualAll men are created equalDemocracy understands equality in all cases is non-existentEquality of opportunityEquality before the lawRace, religion, gender, etc. cannot hold a person backEach must developed as fully as they canHas everyone reached this?

Majority Rule, Minority RightsDemocracy argues that the majority will be right the most oftenDemocracy is an experiment in trial and errorDemocracy looks for a satisfactory solution to problemsMajority must be able to hear the minority argument

Necessity of CompromiseDemocracy is a blend and adjusting of competing views and interestsCompromising is a process in coming to an agreementEssential for two reasonsThe individual is important and equality of all Decisions can only be made through compromiseFew public questions have two sides

Individual FreedomDemocracy thrive in a atmosphere of Individual FreedomsRemember: Freedom/Liberty is not ABSOLUTEYour freedom cannot infringe on anotherBalance between freedom and order

Free Enterprise SystemFES: economic system characterized by the private ownership of capital, goods and services, and investments, made by private individuals, not the governmentLaw of Supply & Demand: when supplies of goods and services become plentiful, prices tend to drop (& vice versa)Mixed Economy: private enterprise with government oversightGovernmentProtects the publicPreserves private enterprise