What is a “state”
• State: a body of people, living in a
defined territory, organized
politically and with the power to
make and enforce law without the
consent of any higher authority
The State and Its Characteristics
The “State”
Elements of the state:
Population – must have people
Territory – must have land
Sovereignty – Supreme and absolute
power within its own territory and can
decide its own foreign and domestic
policies
Government ( our focus)- the institution in
which society makes and enforces its policies
Theories of the Evolution of the State
EVOLUTION THEORY – Aristotle
FORCE THEORY
– survival of the
fittest
DIVINE RIGHT THEORY – God ( Kings)
Social Contract Theory
- Hobbes, Locke
What gives the State the Right to Rule?
Depends!!!!
Power, Authority, Legitimacy
In our case….its the Constitution
What are the Functions of
Government?
Protect?
Educate?
Create Laws?
Enforce Laws?
Improve Society?
????????
Different Forms of Government
Unitary
- central govt with control
Federal
- central and local spheres of
influence
Confederation - local units have the power
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
• Unitary
• Centralized Government
• All powers held by a single agency
–Ex….Great Britain ( Parliament)
• Federal
• Powers divided between a centralized govt. and
several local govts.
–DIVISION OF POWER
–Ex…..US
Confederate
Alliance of Independent states…
- local or states in control
- weak central government
Ex….Confederate States of AM.
• Presidential
• Executive and Legislative are separate branches
• President is chosen separate from the
Legislature
• Ex….USA
• Parliamentary
• Executive and Legislative are one
• President and Cabinet are members of
Parliament
• Prime Minister is leader of Majority Party
• Only in power as long as they are the Majority
• Ex…..Great Britain, Canada, Japan