CHAPTER 1
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT

WHY?
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Why is government necessary for each scenario?
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View each image and list your ideas of why aspects of government would be needed.

SCHOOL

FOOD & DRINK

Section 1
GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC GOOD

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
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Government – an institution with the power to make and enforce rules for all people living in a political unit, or state.
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The people who live in the state are its citizens.

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
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Government’s authority is called sovereignty.
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There are nearly 200 sovereign states in the world. (United States, China, Russia, Japan)

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
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Governments establish rules by making laws.
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Natural Law – system of justice that would apply if government and laws didn’t exist.

ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT
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Divine Right of Kings – rulers claiming their authority came directly from God.
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The rightful authority any government has over its citizens is known as legitimacy.

ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT
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In the late 1600s, Thomas Hobbes argued that people create the state by entering into a social contract.
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Social Contract – giving up your sovereignty in exchange for peace and order.

ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT
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John Locke argued that social contracts create limited governments.
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He believed the government’s proper job is to secure the people’s natural rights.

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
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1) Maintaining Order
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Enforcing Laws
Protection from Harmful Business Practices
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Protection from Foreign Invasion

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
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2) Providing Services
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Building Roads
Inspecting Food & Medication
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Delivering Mail

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
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3) Resolving Conflict
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Compromise
Court Systems

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
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4) Promoting Values
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Safety
Equality of Opportunity
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Individual Rights

Section 2
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

SOURCES OF AUTHORITY
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1) Monarchy – the head of state is a hereditary position.
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Absolute Monarchy – the monarch has almost complete control.
Constitutional Monarchy – the monarch is primarily a ceremonial head of state.

SOURCES OF AUTHORITY
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2) Republic – government’s authority comes from the people.
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Classical Republic – all adult citizens participate directly in making government decisions.
Democracy – allows citizens to vote, express their views, and form or join political groups.

SOURCES OF AUTHORITY
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3) Dictatorship – power is in the hands of either a single person or a small group.
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Autocracy – single person holds power.
Oligarchy – small group holds the power.