Theories of Government Notes Limited Government A government

Theories of Government Notes

Limited Government: A government which has clearly defined and limited powers Levies just enough taxes to provide for national defense and police protection and otherwise stays out of peoples affairs The power of government to intervene in the exercise of civil liberties is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution. Civil Liberties: individual rights

Pair Question: Limited Government

Pair Question: Limited Government Describe Limited Government.

Republicanism: a political theory that holds that the best form of government is a republic as opposed to a monarchy Republic: a form of government in which affairs of state are a “public matter, ” not the private concern of the rulers A system of government which derives its power from the people rather than from another basis such as hereditary or divine right Any government that does not have a monarch

Pair Question: Republicanism

Pair Question: Republicanism Describe Republicanism.

Representative Government: a type of democracy founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people Representatives usually do not have the power to select other representatives

Natural Rights: a political theory that maintains that an individual enters into society with certain basic rights that no government can deny Universal and inalienable rights inalienable: Famous John cannot be taken away Philosophers: Locke Thomas Paine

John Locke Said natural rights are life, liberty and estate/property Life: everyone is entitled to live Liberty: everyone is entitled to do anything they want so long as it doesn’t conflict with the first right Estate/Property: everyone is entitled to own all they create or gain through gift or trade so long as it doesn’t conflict with the first two

Thomas Paine Believed that rights cannot be granted by any charter because this could imply that they could be taken away.

Pair Question: Natural Rights

Pair Question: Describe Natural Rights. Be sure to include the beliefs of John Locke and Thomas Paine