Foundations of Government
Foundations of Government
The Purposes of Government
Section 1 Focus
• What is government?
• What are the major characteristics of a state?
• What are the major functions of government?
• What theories of rule have been put forth to explain
government?
Foundations of Government
“Government is not the
solution to our problems.
Government is the
problem.”
Ronald Reagan
• Do you agree with this?
• Why do many Americans
dislike “the government?”
• Could society exist without
government?
Foundations of Government
Section 1 at a Glance
Government
The formal structures and institutions through which
decisions are made for a group of people.
Foundations of Government
What Is Government?
Three main components of government
• People—Elected officials with authority and control over others;
public servants who carry out day-to-day governmental business.
• Power— To make and enforce laws, to settle disputes and protect
rights.
• Policy— Actions by the government in pursuit of a goal.
Foundations of Government
Characteristics of a State
What makes the United States (or
any other country) “one nation?”
Foundations of Government
Characteristics of a State
What makes the United States (or
any other country) “one nation?”
• Population
• Territory
• Government
• Sovereignty
Foundations of Government
Characteristics of a State
State: political unit with the power to make and enforce laws
over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory
Characteristics:
• Population—Must have people; number does not matter
• Territory—Must have clearly defined and recognized borders
• Government—Must have a government that issues and enforces
rules for the people living within its territory; government must be
recognized from within and by other nation states in the international
community
• Sovereignty—Must have supreme power to act within its territory
and to control its external affairs
Foundations of Government
Origins of the state
How did government begin in human society?
Foundations of Government
Origins of the State
The force theory states
that one person or a
small group took control
of an area and forced all
within it to submit to that
person’s or group’s rule.
Foundations of Government
Origins of the State
The evolutionary
theory argues that the
state evolved
naturally out of the
early family.
Foundations of Government
Origins of the State
The theory of divine right
holds that God created
the state and that God
gives those of royal birth
a “divine right” to rule.
Foundations of Government
Origins of the State
The social contract theory argues that
the state arose out of a voluntary act of
free people.
Foundations of Government
What if…?
Foundations of Government
Functions of Government
Ensure National Security
• Guard its territory and its
people against external
threats
• Create and maintain
national defense forces
including military personnel,
weaponry, and operations, as
well as peacekeeping
missions
• Maintain good relations with
other nations (diplomacy)
Foundations of Government
Functions of Government
Maintain Order
• Laws help maintain order and
protect rights, property, and lives
• Must have clear rules for
unacceptable behavior and
consequences
• Different societies have different
ideas about lawful behavior and
appropriate punishment
• Must have the ability to identify
and punish wrongdoers
Foundations of Government
Resolve Conflict
• Conflicts are resolved
through the justice system.
• People and groups try to
influence government
decisions through politics.
Foundations of Government
Provide Services
• People pay taxes to fund
services such as parks,
mail, and education
• Public goods include clean
water, parks, and roads;
restricted services may
include medical care, high
schools, and public housing
Foundations of Government
Provide for the
Public Good
• Taking actions that benefit the
people.
• Definitions of “public” and “public
good” change over time.
• What is “good” for one group of
people is often not “good” for
another group.
• These questions are addressed
through the political process
Foundations of Government
The Forms of Government
Section 2 Focus
• What are the classic forms of government?
• How is national power organized differently in unitary,
federal and confederal systems?
Foundations of Government
Forms of Government
Section 2 Focus
• What are the classic forms of government?
• How is national power organized differently in unitary,
federal, and confederal systems?
• In what ways do presidential and parliamentary systems
differ?
Foundations of Government
Foundations of Government
The Classic Forms
Monarchy
Dictatorship
• Government is headed by one
person with supreme authority
• One person, or a small group of
people, holds unlimited power
• In absolute monarchy, powers are
unlimited and unchecked
• Power is maintained by force
• Constitutional monarchy most
common form today
– Monarch is ceremonial head of
state
– Real power belongs to another
part of the government
• Most dictators head authoritarian or
totalitarian regimes
• An oligarchy is led by a small
group of people
• Dictatorships can be secular or
theocracies
Foundations of Government
Democracy
• “Rule by the people”
• In a pure democracy, the people make major government decisions through
a process of majority rule.
• In a direct democracy, such as Athens, citizens meet regularly to discuss
issues and vote for leaders.
• Athens was actually an elite-based system.
• In a republic, the people elect representatives to make decisions on their
behalf.
• In a representative democracy, the people are the source of authority.
– Elected representatives closely follow the wishes of the people
– Elections are free and fair
– Everyone can participate equally in the political process
Foundations of Government
Foundations of Government
Organizing National Power
National power
• Consists of a number of smaller
administrative units
• Control can be centralized or
spread across geographic regions
Federal systems
• Divides power between a national
government and smaller regional
governments
• Levels act independently, but
cannot abolish or reorganize the
other level
Unitary systems
• Sovereignty rests in a single,
national government with ultimate
authority
• Has the power to change or abolish
local governments
Confederal systems
• Independent states join forces in a
central government
• States delegate limited powers to
the central government for common
interests
Foundations of Government
Democracy the United States
Section 3 Focus
• Why are the ideals of liberty, equality and self-government
important to American democracy?
• What are the basic principles of American democracy?
• Why is the free-enterprise system important to American
democracy?
Foundations of Government
Basic Principles of American Democracy
• Ideal—Conception of something in its most perfect form
• Core ideals of American democracy—Liberty, equality,
self-government
• Used from the beginning of our republic
• Recorded in our nation’s founding documents
• Still guide our government
Foundations of Government
Core Ideals of American Democracy
Liberty
• Ability of people to act and think as they choose.
• Choices must do no harm to the liberty or well-being of others.
• Freedom from government control.
• Freedom to exercise citizens’ rights guaranteed under the
Constitution
Foundations of Government
Core Ideals of American Democracy
Equality
• All people possess a fundamental, moral worth.
• Their worth entitles them to fair treatment and equal opportunity.
• Equality must be balanced with liberty to avoid despotism
Foundations of Government
Core Ideals of American Democracy
Self-Government
• All people can rule themselves and do so as political equals.
• People are the ultimate source of government authority.
• Governments derive their powers from the consent of the
governed.
• People have a right to revolt against a government that has lost
their consent.
Foundations of Government
Principles of American Democracy
Worth of the Individual
• People can reach their highest
potential if they are free to
pursue their own path in life.
• Democracy values individual
freedom, personal
responsibility, self-reliance,
and individual achievement.
Foundations of Government
Principles of American Democracy
Rule of Law
• “A government of laws, not of
men”
• Everyone in society – even
government leaders -- is bound
by the law.
• The Constitution is the
fundamental law which limits the
power of government.
Foundations of Government
Principles of American Democracy
Majority Rule, Minority
Rights
• Decision making by majority
rule, balanced by minority
rights
• Individual rights are protected
under a liberal democracy
Foundations of Government
Principles of American Democracy
Compromise
• Ability of two opposing groups to give up some demands and
reach agreement.
• Necessary to keep the political process moving
Foundations of Government
Principles of American Democracy
Citizen Participation
• Citizens must be informed about public issues
• There are many ways to participate peacefully, respectfully, and with
tolerance
Foundations of Government
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
House, Senate reach
agreement on health care
reform bill
Leaders of the House of
Representatives and Senate
finally settled the
differences in two proposals
to overhaul the nation’s
health care system.
Foundations of Government
African-American
couple wins lawsuit
Bill and Mary Jones were
awarded $100,000 in circuit
court after a judge ruled
against a real estate agent
who deliberately kept them
from seeing homes for sale
in a white neighborhood.
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Foundations of Government
Gay/lesbian march
considered successful
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
Leaders of the gay/lesbian
community declared
Saturday’s “March for
Marriage” a success.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Foundations of Government
School forced to
accommodate disabled
student
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
The three-story Looville
High School will be required
to install a new elevator so
that a wheelchair-using
student can attend classes
in the top floor science
labs.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Foundations of Government
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Officials announce
location of new
landfill
After nearly two years of
negotiating, Staunton and
Augusta County officials
have decided to locate the
new landfill in Ft.
Defiance, adjacent to the
high school property.
Foundations of Government
Half-way house to open
in Hill Street
neighborhood
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
Despite the loud objections
of many residents, a city
judge ruled that a half-way
house for convicted felons
has a legal right to operate
at the planned location on
Hill Street.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Foundations of Government
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
5th grade girl
organizes backpack
drive
Sara Smith, a local 5th
grader, has worked with
her Girl Scout troop to
get over 100 backpacks
filled with school
supplies donated for needy
children.
Foundations of Government
Labor union allowed to
protest
A federal judge ruled that
labor union members must be
permitted to protest on the
sidewalk outside the factory
where they work.
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Foundations of Government
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Community outraged
over judge’s ruling
After complaints by
several Jewish students,
Terryville High School
cheerleaders will no
longer be allowed to
display banners with
gospel verses at football
games.
Foundations of Government
Augusta County
supervisors, school board,
settle on teacher salaries
Identify the concept of
democracy that matches
each newspaper headline.
• Worth of the individual
• Rule of law.
County supervisors and the
school board finally reached
a deal on the size of
teacher raises for next
year.
• Majority rule, minority
rights.
• Need for compromise
• Citizen participation
Foundations of Government
Free Enterprise Economic System
• Ensures economic freedom
• Free enterprise allows both people and businesses to make
their own economic choices
• Key to preserving other freedoms and to allowing people to
build wealth, thereby empowering them to limit governmental
power
• Where the government’s role in the economy is minimal,
economic freedoms thrive. Where the government plays a major
role in the economy, people may have fewer economic
freedoms.