Presentation Pro Magruders American Government CHAPTER 1 Principles

Presentation Pro Magruder’s American Government CHAPTER 1 Principles of Government © 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

1 st Day Questions 1. What is perfect freedom? 2. What is power? 3. What is authority? 4. What is legitimacy? 5. How is legitimacy established? 6. What is democracy? Go To Section: 1 2 3

CHAPTER 1 Principles of Government SECTION 1 Government and the State SECTION 2 Forms of Government SECTION 3 Basic Concepts of Democracy Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1

SECTION 1 Government and the State • How is government defined? • What are the basic powers that every government holds? • What are the four defining characteristics of the state? • How have we attempted to explain the origin of the state? • What is the purpose of government in the United States and other countries? Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 1

Introduction Assignment • Define government, public policy, legislative power, executive power, judicial power, constitution, dictatorship, democracy, state, sovereign, autocracy, oligarchy, unitary government, federal government, division of powers, confederation, presidential government, parliamentary government, compromise, free enterprise system, law of supply and demand, mixed economy Go To Section: 1 2 3

What Is Government? Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1 Section 1

The State The state can be defined as having these four characteristics: Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 1

3 Basic Kinds of Power • Legislative Power to make law and to frame public policies • Executive Power to execute, enforce, and administer law • Judicial Power The power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society Go To Section: 1 2 3

Origins of the State The Force Theory • The force theory states that one person or a small group took control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or group’s rule. The Evolutionary Theory • The evolutionary theory argues that the state evolved naturally out of the early family. The Divine Right Theory • The theory of divine right holds that God created the state and that God gives those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule. The Social Contract Theory • The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a voluntary act of free people. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 1

The Purpose of Government The main purposes of government are described in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States: “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 of America. ” Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 1

Purpose of Government • To Form a More Perfect Union Constitution was built in the belief that in union there is strength It was built after the articles of confederation failed because they were powerless to confront the chaos and confusion of the time • To Establish Justice “To provide justice is the most sacred of the duties of the government” – Thomas Jefferson No purpose, no goal of public policy, can be of greater importance in a democracy. Go To Section: 1 2 3

Purpose of Government • To Insure Domestic Tranquility Order is essential to the well-being of any society, and keeping the peace at home has always been a prime function of government • To Provide for the Common Defense One of government’s major responsibilities. Defense is mentioned far more often in the constitution than any of the other functions of government it created. Go To Section: 1 2 3

Purpose of Government • To Promote the General Welfare Government acts as a servant to its citizens in many ways. Public schools are a prime example. In the U. S. the services that government provides are those that benefit all or most people and are not likely to be provided by voluntary acts of private individuals or groups. • To Secure the Blessings of Liberty “the God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. ” –Thomas Jefferson “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ” – Benjamin Franklin Go To Section: 1 2 3

Purpose of Government • “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. ” – Thomas Jefferson Go To Section: 1 2 3

Section 1 Review 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What is the difference between a government and a state? 6. Explain the following statement: Much of the thought upon which present day democratic government rests began as a challenge to theory of the divine right of kings. 7. Can you explain how the language of the Preamble reflects the idea of the social contract. Who holds power in a dictatorship? What is the purpose of a constitution? Give an example of a use of judicial power. The U. S. is sovereign, but the “states” are not. Could the U. S. function if the “states” were sovereign. Go To Section: 1 2 3

1 st ESSAY • Two broad purposes of American government—insuring domestic tranquility and securing the blessings of liberty— sometimes come into conflict. Considering this, do you agree or disagree with Benjamin Franklin's view: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"? Explain your reasons. Go To Section: 1 2 3

Locke Assignment 1. 2. 3. Read page 11. Answer the 4 questions. 4. Write a page and a half explaining why you answered the questions the way you did and how they were different or the same to John Locke’s ideas. Cite any phrases that are used in the Declaration of Independence (pages 40 -43). Final paragraph needs to explain if you agree with Locke and why. Answer the questions on the worksheet in your own opinion. Compare your answers to how you think Locke would have answered the questions. Go To Section: 1 2 3

Bell Ringer 1. A government is (a) the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. (b) a collection of people. (c) always democratic. (d) the organization representing farms and industries. 2. A state has the following four characteristics: (a) population, territory, sovereignty, and government. (b) sovereignty, a perfect union, welfare, and territory. (c) people, places, force, and divine right. (d) justice, defense, liberty, and domestic tranquility. Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this chapter? Click Here! Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 1

SECTION 2 Forms of Government • How can we classify governments? • How are systems of government defined in terms of who can participate? • How is power distributed within a state? • How are governments defined by the relationship between the legislative and executive branches? Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 2

Classifying Governments can be classified by three different standards: (1) Who can participate in the governing process. (2) The geographic distribution of the governmental power within the state. (3) The relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches of the government. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 2

Classification by Who Can Participate Democracy • In a democracy, supreme political authority rests with the people. • A direct democracy exists where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves. • In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Dictatorship • A dictatorship exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. • An autocracy is a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power. • An oligarchy is a government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually selfappointed elite. Chapter 1, Section 2

Classification by Geographic Distribution of Power Unitary Government • A unitary government has all powers held by a single, central agency. Confederate Government • A confederation is an alliance of independent states. Federal Government • A federal government is one in which the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 2

Go To Section: 1 2 3

Classification by the Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 2

Forms of Government Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 2

Section 2 Quiz 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What defines a unitary gov’t? 6. More than a century ago, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli declared: “I must follow the people. Am I not their leader? ” What do you think he meant by that comment? How is power distributed in a federal government? Who holds power in an oligarchy? What specific trait gives the U. S. a presidential system of gov’t? In a democracy, those who are responsible for the day-to-day conduct of gov’t are accountable to the people for what is done in their name. Which form of gov’t, presidential or parliamentary, do you think comes closer to this ideal? Why? Go To Section: 1 2 3

Bell Ringer 1. In a democracy, (a) independent states form an alliance. (b) supreme political authority rests with the people. (c) those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. (d) the rule by a few, select individuals regulates the will of the people. 2. The United States government has the following characteristics: (a) confederate, parliamentary, and dictatorship. (b) unitary, presidential, and democracy. (c) federal, presidential, and democracy. (d) unitary, parliamentary, and dictatorship. Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this section? Click Here! Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 2

2 ND ESSAY/Bell Ringer • Is democracy more or less efficient as a form of government than dictatorship? Explain the reasons for your answer. Go To Section: 1 2 3

SECTION 3 Basic Concepts of Democracy • What are the foundations of democracy? • What are the connections between democracy and the free enterprise system? • How has the Internet affected democracy? Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 3

Foundations The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions: (1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person; (2) A respect for the equality of all persons; (3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights; (4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; and (5) An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 3

Fundamental Worth of the Individual • This is of overriding importance in democratic thought. • Insists that each person’s worth and dignity is recognized and respected at all times Go To Section: 1 2 3

Equality of All Persons • “all men are created equal” – Jefferson • Equality of opportunity • Equality before the law • Holds that no person should be held back because of race, color, religion, or gender Go To Section: 1 2 3

Majority Rule with Minority Rights • Will of the people and not the dictate of the ruling few that determines public policy. • Majority must always recognize the right of any minority to become the majority. Majority must always be willing to: • Hear objections • Bear criticisms • Welcome suggestions Go To Section: 1 2 3

Necessity of Compromise • Decision making must be a give-and-take among the various competing interests • Compromise is an essential part of democratic concept because: It is made up of equal individuals w/different opinions and interests Few public questions have only two sides Go To Section: 1 2 3

Individual Freedom • Democracy insists that each individual must be as free to do as he/she pleases as far as the freedom of ALL will allow. • “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins. ” – Oliver Wendell Holmes Go To Section: 1 2 3

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System • The free enterprise system is an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control; and determined in a free market. • Decisions in a free enterprise system are determined by the law of supply and demand. • An economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion is called a mixed economy. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 3

Democracy and the Internet • Democracy demands that the people be widely informed about their government. • Theoretically, the Internet makes knowledgeable participation in democratic process easier than ever before. • However, all data on the World Wide Web is not necessarily true, and the long-term effects of the Internet on democracy has yet to be determined. Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 3

Discussion 1. What characteristics define a state? 2. On what three general bases can governments be classified? Explain each. 3. Briefly describe each of the five basic concepts of democracy. 4. Discuss why compromise is such an essential part of democracy. 5. Describe the relationship between the rights of the individual and the rights of the overall society. 6. In what sense must a democratic society provide for the rights of the minority? What obligation does this place on the majority? 7. How has the Internet affected democracy? Go To Section: 1 2 3

BELL RINGER 1. All of the following are basic notions found in the American concept of democracy EXCEPT (a) a recognition of of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person. (b) a respect for the equality of all persons. (c) the rule of government by a single individual. (d) an acceptance of the necessity of compromise. 2. In a free enterprise system, the means of capital are owned (a) by private and corporate entities. (b) by government agencies. (c) by only the agricultural sector. (d) equally by the collective citizenry. Want to connect to the Magruder’s link for this section? Click Here! Go To Section: 1 2 3 Chapter 1, Section 3

Bell Ringer • Finish yesterday’s essay! Go To Section: 1 2 3

Chapter 1 Introduction Assignment • Define government, state, sovereign, judicial power, executive power, legislative power, dictatorship, autocracy, oligarchy, unitary government, federal government, confederate government, democracy, direct democracy, representative democracy, presidential government, parliamentary government Go To Section: 1 2 3

BELL RINGER • DEFINE THE TERM GOVERNMENT IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Go To Section: 1 2 3

What else to be ready for on 9 Weeks Test • • • Characteristics of a state • • • Foundations of democracy • Theories of origins of a state Classifications of governments Types of colonies Important English documents Attempts at colonial unity Results of both continental congresses Characteristics of constitutions Go To Section: 1 st state 1 2 3 • Weaknesses of the articles of confederation • • • Virginia plan/New Jersey plan • Characteristics of the constitution • • • Formal amendment process Constitutional compromises Influences/reactions to constitution Formal amendments Informal amendment process