Unit 1 - Foundations of
Government
Targets 1.1 WHY STUDY
GOVERNMENT – 1.2
THEORIES OF GOVERNMENT
AP Government & Politics: Timpanogos High School
THE STUDY Of GOVERNMENT
TEAMS
• Why should we study government?
• Do we need government? Why or Why not?
 What would happen if government ceased to
exist?
• Today, is government doing a good job or not?
 Write down one area the government is doing
a good job and one where they are not. (Be
Specific)
• Do you think our government has become too powerful
today?
 If so, in what way? (be specific)
 What limits should be placed on Government?
Government & Citizenship
Timpanogos High School
1.1 Why Study Government?
•
Government affects many aspects of our lives
 Government decisions ( public policy &
Nation Security policy ) touches almost
every aspect of our lives…
 The role of government changed dramatically
in the 20th century
AP Government & Politics: Timpanogos High School
1.1 Why Study Government?
• Enduring Political Questions:
 Who has the power?
• Who Actually Exercises Political Power?
 What ultimate ends do (should)
governments serve?
• What “greater good” is government set up for?
(Aristotle: governments should exist for some
higher good.)
• What kinds of public policies should government
adopt to achieve this greater good?
AP Government & Politics: Timpanogos High School
1.2 Enduring Theories of Government
• Aristotle…
 Systematic Study of Government
 Autocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy
• Plato…
 Philosopher-Kings
 The Republic
Government & Citizenship
Timpanogos High School
1.2 Enduring Theories of Government
• Machiavelli…
 The Prince…
 “The ends justify the means”
• John Locke…
 Natural Rights…
 “Life, Liberty, and property”
AP Government & Politics: Timpanogos High School
1.2 Enduring Theories of Government
• James Madison  Human nature & the need for
government
 “But what is government itself
but the greatest of all
reflections on human nature? If
all men were angels, no
government would be necessary”.
» James Madison, Federalist #51
• Thomas Jefferson - Size and scope of
government
 “The government that governs
least governs best”
» Thomas Jefferson
AP Government & Politics: Timpanogos High School