RAP
 What is a “contract”?
an agreement with specific terms between two or more persons
 What does the word “social” mean?
Of or relating to human society
 Now define the term social contract to the best of your ability
Today:
Review the Social Contract
Tuesday 1/5
 RAP (Review and / or Preview Question)
 Do we need government? (Federal, state, local)
 Today:
CE reminder
Word Cloud Problems facing today
Social Contract PPT – take notes
Read and take notes on Ch. 1 Principles of Government
Current Event
 Every Wednesday, two or three people will present a current event to the class.
 You must a visual– Prezi or PPT to present –pictures on each slide!!
 You must turn a ½ page summary of the article and ½ page opinion of the article.
 12 font
 Double space
 Attach the first page of your article – need to go to a legitimate source –BBC, Arizona
Daily Star, Al Jazeera America, etc.
 If you are not sure about the source, please ask me.
 Talk to your parents about current issues.
Blank Gross national problems
 With the person sitting next to you please create a similar
political cartoon as the one you analyzed but with the issues
you think are most prominent in the country today.
 Be prepared to support your cartoon. 
Individually and group
 What is government?
 List different types of governments.
 What expectations do you have for your government?
 In your opinion, what is the best type of government?
Rights & Responsibilities
What are rights?
Rights
 Civil Liberties
(Bill of Rights)
 Freedom of religion
 Freedom of speech
 Freedom of Press
 Fair Trial
Protection against
government
 Civil Rights
(Preamble)
 Unity
 Justice
 Security
 Welfare
 Liberty
Protections by the
government
Rights & Responsibilities
How do we allow maximum freedom, but maintain
security?
“The right to swing my
fists ends where the
other man’s nose begins”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Rights & Responsibilities
What is being responsible?
Responsibilities
 able to answer for one's conduct and obligations
 able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
 accountable
 in charge
Rights & Responsibilities
What are the pros and cons of being responsible?
What are your civic responsibilities?
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Knowing about rights and laws
Participating in political life
Voting
Work and pay taxes
Volunteerism
Exercise your rights
The Idea of
“Social Contract”
Enlightened Thinkers:
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Objective:
 By the end of this lesson you be able to complete a Venn-
Diagram that compares the philosophies of Hobbes, Locke
and Rousseau.
 Throughout the lesson you will write down facts on the back
of the Venn-Diagram handout.
Hobbes
Locke
Rousseau
Similar Beliefs:
Although born in different times they hold similar beliefs, they
did not believe in the “Divine Right of Kings”.
Leaders chosen by God was unproven, unreasonable and
illogical.
Leaders are approved by the people.
 “Consent of the governed” or “Popular consent”.
In a State of Nature everyone is free and equal.
 Humans live in isolation by themselves or in family groups,
clans, or tribes.
Thomas Hobbes:
1588-1679
 The State of Nature is constant fear: (pessimistic)
 The world was a “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”. Fear was
a constant companion.
 War of all against all (everyone man for themselves)
 To survive this war, and fear, people must forfeit their free
rights to the leader.
 The leader’s power comes from the collected rights the
subjects give up.
 If the leader or his descendants were cruel, conditions
would have to be tolerated to keep from going back
into the State of Nature (fear).
Check for Understanding: Notes
 What are three facts for Hobbes.
John Locke:
1632 – 1704
 The State of Nature is not fear: (optimistic)
 People are free but endowed with reason, rather then
a desire for absolute power.
 Humans instinctively follow ‘natural laws’.
 Most major religions have a code of conduct people should live by (ex: 10
commandments).
 Humans are social beings that tend to band together
in small communities, creating a government.
 BUT to vote you had to own property in the
government.
 He suggested indirect democracy (republic) based upon
representatives elected by voters.
John Locke:
 People entered into the society on a voluntary and
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reasoned basis, and he believed that they should not be forced
or asked to give up all of their rights, but rather that humans
had natural rights (inalienable) which the society and
leader MUST respect and protect.
The government was tasked to protect Life, Liberty and Property and
if a government does not protect these rights they can be
overthrown in favor of another government.
Believed in Separation of Powers between legislative, executive
and judicial.
Believed in Pluralism: Majority rule with respect to
minority rights.
He was followed largely by the framers of Constitution…Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of happiness…
Check for Understanding: Notes
 What are three facts for Locke.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
1712 – 1778
 Known as the ‘Father of True Democracy’ .
 His State of Nature was different from Hobbes and
Locke because he believed people lived in harmony with
nature
and each other, showing compassion for others.
 People come together, voluntarily, to form societies, not
out of fear or innate sociability, but rather to overcome whatever
obstacles nature throws their way.
 People should not have to abandon rights to a higher
authority because everyone is equal.
 Believed in direct democracy. The cooperation and
compassion people have for each other would allow people to
understand the needs and wishes of each person.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau:
 For direct democracy to work communities had to have the
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“proper size”.
Ground rules would not be needed because the size would
naturally create a process of consensus on issues.
If anyone felt uncomfortable with any way of life, a return to the
state of nature was open.
Believed if a state were to develop it should be positive, and its
primary goal would be to care and help its citizens.
Homelessness, hunger, and ignorance would not be allowed to
overtake its people. The state would share resources so that all
members of society would be provided for.
The state should encourage citizens to help each other,
share resources and cultivate compassion for each other.
His views are considered an early form of self-actualization, protosocialist, welfare thinking of democracy where the government is an
entity that should take of its citizens, rather than ignore them and
leave them to their fate.
Check for Understanding: Notes
 What are three facts for Rousseau.
Closure:
 Using the notes you created, transfer the information into a
Venn-Diagram.
 Venn-Diagram
For the rest of Today
 Government class covers a lot of information.
 Reading and taking notes, discussion, debates, presentations.
 If you make it fun, it will be fun, so be positive, bring a good attitude, and let’s learn about
government!!
 Open your textbook to page 2.
 Please read and complete the worksheet by Thursday.
 take notes on Ch. 1… vocabulary, people, events, look at the section preview---page 4
 If you cover the objectives in your notes you should be good.
“The Blame Game”