Origins of Government
Target: I can explain some of the basic theories on why
mankind developed government.
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Theories on Government
• Force Theory believes that one person or
group gains control of an area with force,
making everyone submit to their power
Theories on Government
• Force Theory believes that one person or
group gains control of an area with force,
making everyone submit to their power
– - 2 Samuel 3:1 “The war between the house of
Saul and the house of David lasted a long time.
David grew stronger and stronger while the
house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.”
Theories on Government
• Evolutionary Theory believes that
government evolved out of the family
Theories on Government
• Evolutionary Theory believes that
government evolved out of the family
– Power moved from within one family to groups
of families (clans) and continued to grow
Theories on Government
• Evolutionary Theory believes that
government evolved out of the family
– Power moved from within one family to groups
of families (clans) and continued to grow
- Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of
the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his
body, of which He is the Savior.”
Theories on Government
• The Divine Right Theory believes that God
had placed those of royal birth in positions
of authority
Theories on Government
• The Divine Right Theory believes that God
had placed those of royal birth in positions
of authority
– The people are to obey their ruler as they would
God
Theories on Government
• The Divine Right Theory believes that God
had placed those of royal birth in positions
of authority
– The people are to obey their ruler as they would
God
- 2 Samuel 5:2 “…and the Lord said to you
(David), ‘You will shepherd my people Israel,
and you will become their ruler.’ ”
Theories on Government
• The Social Contract Theory believes that
the state arises out of the people feeling the
need for protection
– The state exists to serve the people
Theories on Government
• The Social Contract Theory believes that
the state arises out of the people feeling the
need for protection
– The state exists to serve the people
– The people are the sole source of power
Theories on Government
• The Social Contract Theory believes that
the state arises out of the people feeling the
need for protection
– The state exists to serve the people
– The people are the sole source of power
– Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that you must
give up some of your rights for the greater
good, while protecting the rights of the
minority
Theories on Government
• In Judges Chapter 2, the Israelites walked
away from the Lord and He turned them
over to raiders and plunderers. Then the
Lord raised up Judges who saved them, but
they would eventually return to corruption
“they refused to give up their evil practices
and stubborn ways (Judges 2:19).” The
Israelites were unwilling to give up some of
their desires for the protection of the
government (judges).
Forms of Government
• Unitary Government- power rests in one
central agency or office (Parliament in
England)
Forms of Government
• Unitary Government- power rests in one
central agency or office (Parliament in
England)
• Federal Government- power is divided
between one central government and several
local governments (US, Australia, Canada,
Mexico)
Forms of Government
• Confederate Government- alliance of
independent states (US under the Articles of
Confederation)
Forms of Government in Practice
• Presidential Government- separation of
powers between executive and legislative
branches
Forms of Government in Practice
• Parliamentary Government- executive
branch is made up of prime minister and
cabinet
Parliament
Forms of Government in Practice
• Parliamentary Government- executive
branch is made up of prime minister and
cabinet
– The cabinet is actually in the legislative branch
Forms of Government in Practice
• Parliamentary Government- executive
branch is made up of prime minister and
cabinet
– The cabinet is actually in the legislative branch
– The cabinet is selected by the PM, but approved
by parliament
Forms of Government in Practice
• Parliamentary Government- executive
branch is made up of prime minister and
cabinet
– The cabinet is actually in the legislative branch
– The cabinet is selected by the PM, but approved
by parliament
– Parliament selects the PM
Forms of Government in Practice
• Parliamentary Government- executive
branch is made up of prime minister and
cabinet
– The cabinet is actually in the legislative branch
– The cabinet is selected by the PM, but approved
by parliament
– Parliament selects the PM
– If PM does not have support of parliament, then
he is replaced (this cuts down on deadlock)
Forms of Democracy
• Direct Democracy- will of the people is
made into law by the people themselves
Forms of Democracy
• Direct Democracy- will of the people is
made into law by the people themselves
– Everyone votes on everything
Forms of Democracy
• Direct Democracy- will of the people is
made into law by the people themselves
– Everyone votes on everything
• Representative democracy- small group of
persons is selected to represent the people in
the showing of their will
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
• Equality of all persons
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
• Equality of all persons
• Majority Rule with protection of the
minority
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
• Equality of all persons
• Majority Rule with protection of the
minority
• Necessity of compromise
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
• Equality of all persons
• Majority Rule with protection of the
minority
• Necessity of compromise
• Individual Freedom
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
• Equality of all persons
• Majority Rule with protection of the
minority
• Necessity of compromise
• Individual Freedom
– absolute freedom can only exist in anarchy
(absence of gov’t)
Foundations of Democracy
• Aren’t these all significant parts of
Christianity???
Foundations of Democracy
• Fundamental worth of the individual
– God desires a personal relationship with everyone
• Equality of all persons
- God is the creator of all humans, and values every one
• Majority Rule with protection of the minority
- God loves and protects even those who have not accepted
him yet
• Necessity of compromise
- Jesus…he was sent do die for our sins because we
cannot do it on our own
• Individual Freedom
- Free will, free to make the choice to follow Christ
James Madison, The Federalist
Papers
“If men were angels, there would be
no need for government”
See Genesis Chapter 3 if confused
Blog @ theBigL
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Due Tomorrow
Does the American form of democracy
fit in with Christianity?
What theory of government
development do you feel is most likely
the root of government?