THEORIES AND
ORIGINS OF
GOVERNMENT
OBJECTIVE
Students will be able to identify
the theories and origins of
American Government
WHAT IS
GOVERNMENT?
The system that sets up and
enforces a society’s laws and
institutions.
Some governments are
controlled by a few people,
some are controlled by many.
FOUR MAIN FUNCTIONS
OF GOVERNMENT
1. Maintain SOCIAL ORDER
2. Provide PUBLIC SERVICES
3. Provide for NATIONAL SECURITY
and a COMMON DEFENSE
4. Provide the basis for an
ECONOMIC SYSTEM (i.e.,
capitalism, socialism,
communism)
I. THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT
Evolution Theory
• A population formed out of
primitive families. The heads of
these families became the
government. When these families
settled in one territory and claimed
it as their own, they became a
sovereign state.
Force Theory
• An individual or group claimed
control over a territory and forced
the population to submit. In this
way, the state became sovereign,
and those in control formed a
government.
THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT
Divine Right Theory
• God created the state, making it
sovereign. The government is
made up of those chosen by God
to rule a certain territory. The
population must obey their ruler.
Social Contract Theory
• A population in a given territory
gave up as much power to a
government as needed to
promote the well-being of all. In
doing so, they created a
sovereign state.
THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT
Problems With Evolution
Theory
1. Considers citizens as children;
paternalistic approach.
2. Dissent is disobedience to the
“fatherland.”
Problems With Force Theory
1. Rewards the biggest gun, most
brutal, most aggressive people
at the expense of the weak.
2. Dissent is crushed.
THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT
Problems With Divine
Right Theory
1. Requires citizens to be
submissive.
2. Dissent is considered a sin
against God.
3. Creates a class society.
Problems With Social
Contract Theory
1. Who controls the terms of the
contract?
2. Who controls the government?
3. Who exactly are, “The
People”?
SO, WHAT KIND OF
GOVERNMENT DO WE HAVE IN
THE U.S. TODAY?
ENGLISH ORIGINS OF
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
The Magna Carta (1215)
-King John is forced to
sign by barons
-Included guarantees
of such fundamental
rights as trial by jury
and due process of law
-Protection against
absolute power
ENGLISH ORIGINS OF
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
The Petition of Right (1628)
-King Charles I signed, by
force of the Parliament
-Limited king’s power
- May not impose martial law
- Can not force quartering
- Punish only by laws of the
land
- Questioned Divine Right
Precursor to the U.S. Bill of
Rights!!
ENGLISH GOVERNMENT –
PARLIAMENT ARRIVES
Parliament was a council of
nobility created to advise the
monarch.
History of hostility between
parliament and monarch.
Parliament = House of Lords +
House of Commons
House of Lords- nobility
House of Commons - wealthy
and people of standing in
community-knights,
merchants, craftsmen.
ENGLISH ORIGINS OF
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
The English Bill of Rights (1689)
-Signed by William and Mary of
Orange during the Glorious
Revolution
-Prohibited a standing army in
peace time
-Required free parliamentary
elections
Precursor to the U.S. Bill of
Rights!!
JOHN LOCKE, 1632-1704
JOHN LOCKE’S NATURAL RIGHTS
PHILOSOPHY
Took Thomas Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory a
step further:
1. People have Natural Rights from birth, by
nature of being human.
2. Life, Liberty and Property are key rights.
3. To preserve their rights, people contract to
give power to government.
4. When government fails to preserve these
rights people have a duty to break the
contract-consent of the governed.
JOHN LOCKE’S NATURAL RIGHTS
PHILOSOPHY
5. By contract, people surrender to the state
the power needed to maintain the social
order and the government agrees to protect
its citizens.
6. People need government to maintain social
order because they haven’t found a way to
live in groups without conflict.
OTHER INFLUENCES ON
FORMATION OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
Baron de Montesquieu-French philosopher 1748:
1. Best form of government-one elected by the
people.
2. Power should be balanced among three
groups-the separation of powers principle.
3. Foundation for development of 3 branches
of government.
4. There is no liberty of law making and law
enforcing powers are united in the same
person.
MONTESQUIEU (CONT.)
5. He believed all people were not equal.
Approved of slavery. Believed women
were weaker than men and must obey
their husband. Yet, he believed women
could govern, i.e., be a Queen.
Another influence: The moral and ethical
ideals from Judeo-Christian tradition:
Question: What does this mean?