T HE B ASICS OF THE S TATE
What is the “state”?
What are some of the theories surrounding its creation?
What is “public policy”?

WHAT IS “ THE STATE ”
¢
The “ state ” is the dominant political unit in our world today
¢
Def: A body of people living in a defined territory and organized under a government, who has the power to make public policy

WHAT IS “ PUBLIC POLICY ” ?
¢
Public policy is
(1) all the goals a government sets and (2) all the actions a government takes to meet the needs of its citizens

The Massacre of European Protestants during the Reformation,
1500 ’ s

Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer at his trial in 1991

Highway construction in New York State, cir. 2004

A couple surveying the destruction of their neighborhood following
Hurricane Katrina, 2005

The terror attacks on the World Trade Center, 2001

WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A
STATE?
¢
States typically are defined by four (4) basic elements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government

WHAT IS “ POPULATION ” ?
¢
States need to have citizens in order to participate & follow its public policy
¢
Populations can be:
—
Homogeneous - Citizens share common customs, language, and culture
—
Heterogeneous - Citizens lack common customs language, and culture

WHAT IS “ TERRITORY ” ?
¢
States need defined and recognized borders
¢
Borders help to mark areas of ownership, citizenship, and state control when dealing with other peoples or states

WHAT IS “ SOVEREIGNTY ” ?
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States need supreme and absolute power within its own territory
¢
If a state lacks sovereignty, it can not make or execute effective public policy

WHAT IS “ GOVERNMENT ” ?
¢
States need government to help make and enforce public policy
¢
Without government, the lives of citizens would be “ a war of every man ”

What are some of the major theories about how government started?
¢
1.
2.
3.
4.
There are four (4) major theories about how government got started:
The Force Theory
The Evolution Theory
The Divine Right
Theory
The Social Contract
Theory

What are the major theories about how government was started?
¢
The Force Theory
—
States were created by powerful leaders who forced people to accept their sovereignty
¢
Historical Examples:
—
—
—
The Romans
Nazi Germany
Soviet Union

What are the major theories about how government was started?
¢
The Evolution
Theory
—
States grew out of family groups and placed sovereignty in the hands of the oldest and wisest
¢
Historical Examples:
—
—
Native American tribes
Brazilian tribal societies

What are the major theories about how government was started?
¢
The Divine Right
Theory
—
God created the state and gave those of royal birth sovereignty over the state
¢
Historical Examples:
—
—
—
The royal families of
Europe
Chinese emperor
Aztec / Incan Societies

What are the major theories about how government was started?
¢
The Social Contract
Theory
—
The idea that citizens agreed to give up some of their freedoms so that the state could better serve their needs
¢
Historical Examples:
—
—
The United States
Modern democracies

How have states used these theories to create working governments?
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States have taken all of these theories into consideration when creating working governments
¢
No two have been alike and all are different