Basic Political Theory and
Historical Roots
The Basic Unit
►The
foundational political unit in
the world is the state
 Body of people in a territory with a
government that has no higher
authority
 Examples: Mexico, Russia, Canada,
the United States are all states
The 4 Characteristics of a State
►Population
►Territory
►Sovereignty
►Government
Vice-President
Joe Biden
How Did States Evolve?
►Theory
Force
#1 -
 One group took
control by force
and imposed
their will upon
others
How Did States Evolve?
►Theory
#2 – Evolutionary
 Heads of families became heads of
clans as the families grew, eventually
leading to a network of tribes that
formed states
How Did States Evolve?
►Theory
Right
#3 – Divine
 15th through 18th
centuries, Western
world believed God
gave certain people
a “divine right” to
rule over others
How Did States Evolve?
►Theory
#4 –
Social Contract
 Theory was
developed by
John Locke,
Thomas Hobbes,
and Jean Jacque
Rousseau
John Locke
(1632-1704)
How Did States Evolve?
►Theory
#4 –
Social Contract
 Free people
decided to form
states to keep
themselves safe
John Locke
(1632-1704)
SO WHAT’S
THE BIG DEAL,
ROSS?!
The Big Deal is:
►So
if people formed states to
serve their own interests,
then government exists to
serve
the people
Purpose of Government
► Based
on the social contract theory, the purpose of
American government is to:
 Form a More Perfect Union
 Establish Justice
 Insure Domestic Tranquility
 Provide for the Common Defense
 Promote the General Welfare
 Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Different Forms of Government
based on Who Can Participate
 Democracy - “Government of the people, by the
people, for the people”
►Direct - people make policy themselves
►Indirect - people vote for others who will
make policy (also called republic)
► Classified
Different Forms of Government
based on Who Can Participate
 Dictatorship – government is not accountable to
anyone
►Autocracy – single person holds unlimited
power
►Oligarchy – a small, self-appointed group rules
► Classified
Different Forms of Government
► Classified
based on
Geographic Distribution
of Power
 Unitary – one national
government, smaller
lower units have no
say in policy
►Examples : Israel,
Great Britain,
France
Different Forms of Government
► Classified
based on
Geographic Distribution
of Power
 Federal – smaller
units share power
with the central
national government
►Examples : Mexico,
Canada, Australia
Different Forms of Government
► Classified
based on
Geographic Distribution
of Power
 Confederal – smaller
regional governments
hold the most power,
united by a weak
central government
►Examples :
European Union,
Confederate States
Different Forms of Government
based on Relationship between
Legislative (people writing the laws) and Executive
(people enforcing the laws)
 Presidential – voters separately elect
Executive and Legislative branch members
► Classified
Different Forms of Government
► Classified
based on Relationship between
Legislative and Executive Branches
 Parliamentary – Executive is chosen from
the Legislative branch
Basic Concepts of Democracy
►Worth
of the Individual
►Equality of All Persons
Not necessarily equal
conditions, but strive for
equal opportunity
Basic Concepts of Democracy
►Majority
Rule, Minority Rights
►Necessity of Compromise
►Individual Freedom
Free Enterprise
►Free
Enterprise
is the economic
system that
allows most
democracies to
work.
Free Enterprise
►Four
factors of a
free enterprise
system:
 Private ownership
 Individual
initiative
 Profit
 Competition
How it Works
►The
Law of Supply and Demand
 When supply is high or demand is
low, prices are low
 When supply is low or demand is
high, prices are high
 These are market forces. If
consumers want things or not,
consumers decide…
Where does Government Fit in?
►Government
always plays a role in
regulating an economy
 Governments can fully control an
economy, or let it be free
 The U.S. uses a mixed
economy, to protect the public
and preserve private ownership