Principles of GovernmentModule 1

Principles of government

Population

You have to have people.

Territory• Fixed Boundaries

Sovereigntythe right to rule within your

boundary.

Government

• Is the people and institutions that make laws. (with authority to make and enforce public policies.)

After your plane crashed you created your own Government!

• 1. You had boundaries.

• 2. You had people.

• 3. You had land.

• 4. You had the right to rule and make your own rules!

Origins of a state

• Family Group

Used force to get power

The rulers are picked by God or People

Gave Government Power to Rule!

Purposes of Government

• Maintain social order – keep people safe

Provide public services

• Clean water, sewage, unspoiled food

Provide national security

• To keep us safe!

Make economic decisions

• To stimulate economic growth!

Thomas Hobbes

• Social contract theory – you give up some rights and in return the government protects you!

• It is to protect one person from the other.

• Believed people could not break this agreement.

Social Contract Theory

• John Locke says you have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

• Took theory one step further- if the government doesn’t protect you, you have the right to overthrow them/.