Principles of Government What is Government Government the

Principles of Government

What is Government? • Government - the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy • Public policy – the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society

Purpose of Government • Form a more perfect union ( strong union of states while maintaining state sovereignty) • Establish justice (reasonable, fair laws) • Insure domestic tranquility (keep public order) • Provide for the common defense (national security)

• Promote the general welfare (provide public services and promote economics • Secure the blessings of liberty (promote individual freedoms)

• Sound familiar? • It should • It comes from the Preamble to the Constitution

Forms of Government • Anarchy • Autocracy (rule by one) – Absolute monarchy – Constitutional monarchy – Dictatorship Anarchy Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy • Oligarchy (rule by few) – Aristocracy (rule by elite) – Theocracy (rule by religion) • Democracy (rule by the people) – Direct democracy (citizens meet and decide issues) – Representative democracy (citizens choose officials who make decisions)

orange - parliamentary republics green - presidential republics, executive presidency linked to a parliament yellow - presidential republics, semi-presidential system blue - presidential republics, full presidential system red - parliamentary constitutional monarchies in which the monarch does not personally exercise power magenta - constitutional monarchies in which the monarch personally exercises power, often (but not always) alongside a weak parliament purple - absolute monarchies brown - republics where the dominant role of a single party is codified in the constitution beige - states where constitutional provisions for government have been suspended grey - countries which do not fit any of the above systems

Theories of Democratic Government • Theories about who has power and influence • Traditional democratic theory: gov’t depends on consent of the governed (direct or representative) • Pluralist theory: interest groups compete for power and influence – Conflict may require bargaining and compromise

• Elite theory: small powerful elite rules in its own interest (business, military, etc) • Bureaucratic theory: structures and procedures allow bureaucrats to hold the real power • Hyperpluralism: democracy is a system of many groups that have so much strength they are often pulled in many directions – Causes gridlock and ineffectiveness

Origins of US Government • Greeks & Romans: – First democratic governments • Magna Carta: (1215) – First attempt to limit power of British king – Created by nobility – Trial by jury, due process, protection against taking life, liberty or property • Creation of Parliament: – Began as advisory group to king – As power of king became more limited, they began making laws

• Petition of Right: (1628) – Extended protections of Magna Carta to commoners – Also included: • No tax without consent of Parliament, declaring martial law • No housing military in homes • Trial by jury • English Bill of Rights: (1689) – Guaranteed free parliamentary elections – Fair and speedy trial – No excessive bail or cruel punishment – No suspending public laws

• Enlightenment Philosophers: – Idea of a social contract (John Locke) – Voluntary agreement between the government and the governed – People are born with natural rights – Governments are created by man – If the government becomes abusive, people may change it – Jefferson adopted these ideas in the Declaration of Independence