Principles of
Government
Chapter One Notes
Updated 2015
S
What is Government?
S What happens if there is NO
government in a state/country?
S What does a government provide
for its people?
Government
is…
…is
a group of
people and
agencies entrusted
with making and
carrying out laws &
policies agreed on
by the larger
population.
What does government do for
you?
Every government has 3 types
of power!
Theories that existed at time of
establishment of U.S. Gov.
S Force Theory – claimed control over a
territory & forced people to submit
S Evolutionary Theory – primitive families
allowed heads of families to rule
S Divine Right Theory – God created the
state & those with royal birth had
S “divine right of kings”.
Divine Right- European Kings
S People give up their “individual
sovereignty” in exchange for the peace &
to a monarchy-King with absolute power!
S From Thomas Hobbes (1588-1678)
S Humans had lived in a “state of nature”
but entered the “Social Contract” out of
necessity; gave power to a King in
exchange for safety and services.
Idea of Natural RightsDemocracy
S Rights that cannot be taken away
S “God given rights”
S Rights not from gov’t
S From John Locke (1632-1704)
S Declaration of Independence largely based
on Locke- ideas of democracy over
monarchy.
S Jefferson: “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”
Hobbes & Locke
Founding Fathers attempts to create
government after independence from
England.
Articles of
Confederation- Failed
The Constitution- Exist
today!
Preamble of Constitution
st
1 line- We the people
Purpose of our Gov’t – stated
in Preamble of Constitution
S Form a More Perfect Union
S help the states work together
cooperatively
S Establish Justice
S citizens should be treated fairly
S Insure Domestic Tranquility
S maintain order within society
Purposes (con’t)
S Provide for the Common Defense
S Protect us against foreign enemies
S Promote the General Welfare
S provide services to benefit citizens
S Secure the Blessings of Liberty
S make sure that future generations continue
to enjoy the same freedoms that we have
Citizens
Duties= required
Preamble/Purpose of
Government
S Review/discussion two or three aspects of the preamble
are the most important?
S Review video clips
S Discovery Education- John Locke
S School House Rock, The Preamble
Many different types of governments in the world!
Democracy
S …in a Democracy – the citizens have the
power & elect their political leaders
S “Government of the people, by the people, and for
the people.”
S Two types of Democracies
S Direct Democracy – people vote directly on
policies- town meetings…
S Representative Democracy/Indirect Democracy
citizens elect leaders and then authorize
those leaders to make decisions.
Dictators
American Economic
System
Our economic system is based on similar principles to
our political system of democracy.
Both emphasize equality of opportunity and a belief in
individual freedom.
Free enterprise system.
S
Free Enterprise System
S Other name for the US economic system or
capitalism which is based on similar
principles in our democracy
S Private ownership; investments made by
private decisions; success/ failure
determined by competition in the market
S Individual initiative, profit
Capitalism & Free
Enterprise
Economic System
Begin digital Journal
Google Drive
S Complete first digital Journal