Unit I Notes
Basic Concepts of American
Democracy
What is government?
That complex of offices, personnel, and
processes by which a state is ruled.
The earliest evidence of government
dates back to Egypt more than 2,500
years ago.
Why is government necessary?
People need rules and laws.
People need order
People need organization
People need services
People need protection
How does American government impact our daily lives?
Imposing taxes
Regulating trade
Requiring school attendance
Passing and enforcing labor laws
Funding the military
Regulating air and water quality
What is public policy?
All the things that a government chooses to do.
Examples:
1. Guaranteeing free speech and press
2. Imposing income taxes
3. Funding the space station
4. No pass-No play
5. Setting minimum wage
Three branches of American Government
Executive: President and Cabinet: Power to enforce law
Legislative: Congress: Power to make law , tax, and spend
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court and Federal Courts: Power to interpret
laws and the Constitution
What is a constitution?
A fundamental set of laws setting out the principles ,
powers, and structures of a government.
What is politics?
The process by which a society decides how powers
and resources will be distributed within that society.
Who gets what!
What is a state?
A body of people organized politically
who are sovereign.
Four Characteristics of a state
Population
Government
Territory
Sovereignty
Population
Human inhabitants
Territory
Defined borders
Government
Creator and enforcer of public policy
and law.
Sovereignty
Absolute and supreme power within the
borders of a state. No outside forces make
and enforce law and policy.
state v. State
A state has all 4 characteristics. (USA)
A State has no sovereignty. (Texas)
If you know the location of sovereignty, you can determine a
state’s form of government.
Four theories of the origin of
the state (government):
Divine Rights of Kings Theory
Evolution Theory
Force Theory
Social Contract Theory
Divine Right Theory
God grants certain people the right to rule. Power
is derived from religion and birth.
Examples:
Evolution Theory
Government evolved gradually over time from
family, to Clan, to Tribe, to government.
Examples:
Force Theory
Government begins by force or military might.
Examples:
Social Contract Theory
Government begins when people agree to form a
state by giving up some of their freedom in
exchange for protection.
Examples:
Philosophers of the Social
Contract Theory
*John Locke *
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Henri, The Baron deMontesquieu
Thomas Hobbes
James Harrington
Basic Principles of the Social
Contract Theory
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Man is born in a “State of Nature”
Man lives under the “Law of Nature”
Man chooses to form a government for
protection
Man must give up some rights in exchange for
protection
If government fails to protect the rights of the
people, the people have the right to choose a
new government.
The Social Contract Theory if the
basis for Thomas Jefferson’s
Declaration of Independence.
The SIX basic democratic ideas borrowed from John Locke :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
“All men are created equal..”
“they are endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights..”
“that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”
“governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed..”
“that whenever any government becomes destructive of these ends, it is
the right of the people to alter or abolish it…”
“…and to institute new government…”
Classical Forms Government:
1. Absolute Monarchy
A political system in which “one man” has hereditary rule . No
other institutions of government exist.
Examples:
2. Dictatorship:
A political system in which an individual or small
group hold absolute political power.
Examples:
3. Feudalism
A political system based upon the rule of local lords bound to a
king by the ties of loyalty and land. A hierarchy of titles and
land determined power.
Example:
4. Democracy
A political system based upon the consent of the people in which
rights are guaranteed by the government to all people.
Examples:
5. Aristocracy
A political system in which power is distributed
based upon noble birth and title.
Example:
6. Oligarchy:
A political system in which only a few people have
power, usually those who have been “chosen”.
Example:
7.Facism
A political system in which the government has
absolute power based upon a belief in nationalism
and military might.
Examples:
8. Anarchy
A political system in which there is no government,
rule, or law.
Examples:
9. Tribal Government:
A political system in which all economic
resources are collectively owned and people
owe allegiance t o a chief or leader.
Three Classifications of Government
1.
2.
3.
Geographic Distribution of Power
Number of people who may participate
Relationship between legislative and executive
branches
1. Unitary System of Government
A political system in which all power belongs to the
national government.
Example:
Advantages to Unitary Government:
1. Uniform system of law nation-wide.
2. No power struggle between the
national and local governments.
3. Less expensive government.
Disadvantages to Unitary Government
1. No local government.
2. Only a few people have lawmaking power for the nation.
3. No diversity of law.
Federal System of Government
A political system in which power is constitutionally
divided between the National government and State
governments with the National government
supreme.
Example:
Advantages to Federal Systems of
Government
1. Allows for regional differences in law.
2. Divided power allows for more people
to have a voice in law making.
3. National supremacy helps to create
national identity.
Disadvantages of Federal Government
1. Multiple, often wasteful levels of
government make government more
expensive.
2. Confusion about the law
3. Conflict between National, State, and
local government over power.
Confederate System of Government
A political system in which power is constitutionally
divided between the national government and the
States with the States having supremacy.
Example:
Advantages of Confederate Government
1. Allows for regional differences
2. Local officials are primarily responsible
for government decision-making.
3. Limited national government ($)
Disadvantages of Confederate Government
1. Little or no national power or identity.
2. States in conflict over power.
3. No one person is in charge of the
nation.
Parliamentary Government
A form of government in which the
legislative branch (Parliament) is dominant
and chooses the Executive.
Example:
Characteristics of Parliamentary Government
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Three interdependent branches
Legislature is dominant
No fixed terms of office
No separation of powers
Prime Minister is chosen by Parliament
from Parliament
6. Only Parliament is directly elected by
the people
Advantages of Parliamentary Government
1. Government can act very quickly
2. Very little conflict between the
branches
3. No expensive national election
for Prime Minister
Disadvantages of Parliamentary Government
1. Taxes and laws may pass too
quickly
2. Prime Minister may be fired by
Parliament without cause
3. Political instability can lead to
economic instability
Presidential Government
A form of government which has 3
independent branches.
Example:
Characteristics of Presidential Government
1. Three, separate, equal branches of
government
2. Fixed terms of office (Exec and Leg Branches)
3. Separation of Powers
4. Checks and Balances
5. Legislature directly elected by the people
6. Executive elected indirectly by the people
and independent of the Legislature
Advantages of Presidential Government
1. Each branch has set powers
2. Checks and Balances prevents abuses of power
3. Executive is independent of Legislative
Disadvantages of Presidential Government
1. President and Congress are designed to be in conflict
2. Law-making is difficult and lengthy
3. No one has all the power or responsibility all the
time
Democratic
Government
A form of government in which the people
are sovereign.
Examples:
Characteristics of Democracy
1. Government is chosen by the people
in competitive elections
2. Personal liberties are guaranteed by
the government
3. Equality before the law
Advantages of Democratic
Government
1. High level of freedom for all
people
2. People have a choice in
government
3. No one is above the law
Disadvantages of Democratic
Government
1. Everyone has the same rights, even
“bad” people
2. Conflict over rights
3. Change takes a long time
Two kinds of Democracy :
1. Direct or Pure Democracy: everyone
votes on all laws themselves
2. Republic or Indirect Democracy:
people elect representative to make
the laws
Dictatorship
A form of government in which power is held by one person or a
small group of people and the people have few rights.
Examples:
Advantages to Dictatorship
1. Change can take place very
quickly
2. Little conflict over rights
3. All decisions are made for the
people by the government.
Disadvantages of Dictatorship
1. People have few or no rights
2. Governments regulates personal lives
3. Government officials have more rights
Types of Dictatorship
1. Totalitarian: government has
absolute and unchallenged power
2. Authoritarian: government has total
control over all aspects of the
peoples’ lives
How can I tell if my country is
REALLY a Democracy?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Is there a written constitution?
Do all adults have the right to vote?
Are there regularly scheduled elections?
Are there secret ballots?
Are there REAL choices on the ballot?
Do people have the right to protest and criticize?
Do the people have religious freedom?
Does the government have to answer to the people?
Five Principles of American Democracy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fundamental Worth of the Individual
Equality of All Persons
Majority Rule Restrained by Minority Rights
Compromise
Individual Liberty
Economic Systems
An economic system is an organized way of
providing goods and services to society.
It is NOT the same thing as a form of
government!
Capitalism
An economic system based on the private ownership of
property, the profit motive, and economic freedom.
Created by Adam Smith is his book The Wealth of
Nations, 1776
Examples:
Characteristics of Capitalism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Private ownership of property
Limited government intervention in the economy
Government support of entrepreneurship
Consumer protection is limited
Freedom of economic choice
Government subsidies of business
Government uses taxes to provide some services
Government provides limited social services to
some people
Advantages of Capitalism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
People have economic choices
Freedom of mobility
The market sets prices and supply
Government supports innovation
Profits and incomes are unlimited !
Disadvantages of Capitalism
1. Only productive people are rewarded
2. Limited social services are provided only
to the neediest members of society
3. Government uses personal income to
support business
Examples:
Socialism
An economic system in which private
ownership of property is combined with
public ownership(gov’t).
First created by Aristotle about 400 BCE
Sometimes called democratic socialism
Characteristics of Socialism
1. Nationalization of major industries
2. Workers have direct role in economic
decisions of nation (vote)
3. Government central planning regulates
the economy
4. High taxes to re-distribute wealth
5. Extensive social services for all citizens
Advantages of Socialism
1. Government provides all with necessities
of life
2. Everyone has benefits
3. Government can control the economy
Disadvantages of Socialism
1.
2.
3.
4.
No incentive to work harder
Limited economic choice
Entrepreneurship not rewarded
Taxes are VERY high (80%+)
Communism
An economic system characterized by collective
ownership of all resources and the absence of
private property and social classes.
Created by Karl Mark and Fredrich Engles in
their book Das Capital, 1865
Examples:
Characteristics of Communism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Nationalization of all businesses
Government controls the economy
Economic freedom is non-existent
Limited social services are provided to all
Profits are illegal
Repressive political system is required to achieve
economic equality
Advantages of Communism
1. Everyone is economically equal
2. Everyone’s needs are provided by the
government
3. Everyone has a job
4. Government can change economic
priorities quickly
Disadvantages of Communism
1.
2.
3.
4.
No incentive to work hard
Very limited economic choices
Only needs are provided
No economic mobility
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Developed by
Adam Smith
Aristotle
Marx & Engles
Home Ownership
Private
Private
Collective
Business Ownership
Private
Combined
Government
Incentive to work
Profits
Benefits
Avoid Prison
Mobility
Free
Limited
None
Social Programs
Limited
Extensive
Some
Health Care
Best/ Expensive
Good/Free
Poor/Free
Unions
Limited
Extensive
Illegal
Consumer
Protection
Some
Extensive
None
Prices
Supply/Demand Gov’t
Gov’t
Type Gov’t
Democracy
Democracy
Dictatorship
Promotion
Skills/Talents
Union Member
Party Member
Economic Decisionmaking
Individual
Gov’t
Gov’t
Profits
Unlimited
Limited
Illegal
Pay/Benefits
Good
Excellent
Poor
How chosen?
Election
Election
Revolution
The End!