The Study of Political The Study of Political ScienceScience

What is Political ScienceWhat is Political Science

Etymology:Etymology:

- ““Political” comes from the Greek Political” comes from the Greek word “polis” (city; sovereign state)word “polis” (city; sovereign state)

- ““Science” comes from Latin word Science” comes from Latin word “scire” ( to know )“scire” ( to know )

In simple terms:In simple terms:

- Political Science is the systematic - Political Science is the systematic study of the state and governmentstudy of the state and government

Further…Further…

As a science of politics…deals with As a science of politics…deals with basic knowledge and understanding basic knowledge and understanding of the state, and the principles and of the state, and the principles and ideals underlying its organization and ideals underlying its organization and activities.activities.

It’s concerned with the association of It’s concerned with the association of human being into the body politic human being into the body politic

It deals with the relations among It deals with the relations among men and groups, relations of men men and groups, relations of men and groups to the state itself, and and groups to the state itself, and relations of the state to other statesrelations of the state to other states

Scope of Political ScienceScope of Political Science

Political theoryPolitical theory

Public law:Public law:- Constitutional lawConstitutional law- Admin lawAdmin law- International lawInternational law

Public AdministrationPublic Administration

Why should a student study Why should a student study political science?political science?

Goal:Goal:

- Education for citizenshipEducation for citizenship- Essential parts of liberal educationEssential parts of liberal education- Knowledge and understanding of Knowledge and understanding of

governmentgovernment

Concepts of State and Concepts of State and GovernmentGovernment

What is a StateWhat is a State

It is a community of persons (1) more It is a community of persons (1) more or less numerous, permanently or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of occupying a definite portion of territory (2), having a government territory (2), having a government (3) of their own to which the great (3) of their own to which the great body of inhabitants render body of inhabitants render obedience, and enjoying freedom obedience, and enjoying freedom from external control (4 ).from external control (4 ).

Origin of StatesOrigin of States

Divine right theory – state as a divine Divine right theory – state as a divine creation and the ruler is ordained by creation and the ruler is ordained by God.God.

Necessity or force theory- great Necessity or force theory- great warriors imposing will upon the weakwarriors imposing will upon the weak

Paternalistic theory- enlargement of Paternalistic theory- enlargement of a family which remained under the a family which remained under the authority of the father and motherauthority of the father and mother

Social contract theory- voluntary Social contract theory- voluntary compact among the people to form a compact among the people to form a society and organize government for society and organize government for the common goodthe common good

State vs. NationState vs. Nation

political vs. ethnic conceptpolitical vs. ethnic concept

Independence vs. lack thereofIndependence vs. lack thereof

State consisting of more than one State consisting of more than one nation and vice-versanation and vice-versa

State vs. GovernmentState vs. Government

Government is only an agent of the Government is only an agent of the statestate

State cannot exist without State cannot exist without governmentgovernment

Government may change but the Government may change but the State remains the sameState remains the same

Why must there be Why must there be government?government?

Purpose and necessity of government:Purpose and necessity of government:

- Advancement of public welfare-Advancement of public welfare-protection and security of people; protection and security of people; preservation of the statepreservation of the state

- Consequence of absence- anarchyConsequence of absence- anarchy

Forms of GovernmentForms of Government

As to number of persons exercising As to number of persons exercising sovereign powers:sovereign powers:

- MonarchyMonarchy-absolute-absolute-limted-limted

- AristocracyAristocracy- DemocracyDemocracy

-direct-direct-indirect-indirect

As to the extent of powers exercised As to the extent of powers exercised by central or national government:by central or national government:

- UnitaryUnitary- FederalFederal

As to the relationship between As to the relationship between executive and legislative branches of executive and legislative branches of government:government:

- ParliamentaryParliamentary- Presidential Presidential