Types of powers

• Legislative – establish laws

• Executive – carry out the laws

• Judicial – interpret laws and settles disputes - Examples?

Where are the powers outlined?

• The Constitution – body of fundamental laws.

– Examples?

Democracy vs. Dictatorship

Democracy - ultimate authority for exercise of powers are held by a majority (of the people)

Dictatorship – authority held by a single person

The State (Nation or Country)

• Over the course of history the state has emerged as the dominant political unit in the world - as compared to cities, counties, districts, etc…

• Can you think of some states? List 3 or 4:

Characteristics of the state (nation/country)

• A. Population – lots to little -

ex: oil rig

• B. Territory – recognized boundaries

• C. Sovereignty – supreme and absolute power within own territory

• D. Government – organized

What do you think?

Discuss among yourselves how states (nations) were first created!!

Major Political Ideas of the Origin of the State

• Natural Law – humans living in a state of nature – if govt. didn’t exist

• The Force Theory – state was born of force• The Evolutionary Theory – developed out of

early family• The Divine Right Theory – God created the state

and gave those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule

• The Social Contract Theory – Thomas Hobbes – state arose out of a voluntary act of free people. The Declaration of Independence used this theory. (T. J.)

The purpose of Government

• 6 purposes/functions of the government.

– Form a more perfect union

– Establish justice

– Insure domestic tranquility

– Provide for common defense

– Promote the general welfare

– Secure the blessings of liberty

CHAPTER 1 SEC. 2CHAPTER 1 SEC. 2

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

CLASSIC FORMS OF GOV’T.CLASSIC FORMS OF GOV’T.

• Feudalism – the dominant political system in medieval Europe, local Lords bound to a king by loyalty (usually beneficial to both)

• Classic Republic – representative democracy in which a small group of elected leaders represent the concerns of the electorate. Ex: Greek city-states

• Absolute Monarchy – King or Queen holds absolute power (control) of the military and the gov’t.

Ex: Saudi Arabia

• Authoritarianism – an individual or group has unlimited authority, no effective restraint on the government exist. Ex. Communist Russia, Cuba or China

• Despotism – rule by a despot (person with absolute power). No Restraint of Power.

Ex: Saddam Hussein / Iraq

• Liberal Democracy – Based on protection of the individual rights and freedom by consent of the governed; protects individual rights from tyranny.

• Totalitarianism – Gov’t. that attempts to control all facets of citizens lives.

DICTATORSHIPDICTATORSHIP

• Oldest and certainly most common form of gov’t. known to history. Exist where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people they rule.

• Gov’t is not accountable for it’s actions.

AUTOCRACYAUTOCRACY

• Gov’t. in which a single person (despot) holds unlimited political power.

OLIGARCHYOLIGARCHY

• Gov’t in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually, self-appointed elite or group.

• In all dictatorships, those in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority.

• Modern Ex: Fascist Italy (1922-1943) Nazi Germany (1933-1945)

Soviet Union (1917-1980s)

UNITARY GOVERNMENTUNITARY GOVERNMENT

• Centralized gov’t. where all powers are held by a central agency.

• Ex: Great Britain and their Parliament.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENTFEDERAL GOVERNMENT

• Powers are divided between a “central” gov’t. and several local governments.

• Operates on a “division of powers”.

• Ex: United States of America

CONFEDERATIONCONFEDERATION

• An alliance of independent nations, ruled by a central organization with representation from each nation.

• Usually holds limited powers over military and foreign commerce.

• Ex: European Union

PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

• Executive and Legislative branches of gov’t. are separate, independent to one another and hold equal power.

• Ex: United States of America

PARLIMENTARY PARLIMENTARY GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

• Executive is made up of Prime Minister or Premier and that official’s cabinet.

• The Prime Minister and the cabinet are themselves members of the legislative branch (The Parliament).

• Ex: Great Britain, Canada & Japan

Basic Concepts of Democracy5 notions

• 1. Worth of the individual – fundamental importance of individual – regardless of station in life. At times, the welfare of some is less important than the interests of the many

Examples: paying taxes, stop signs, registering for draft (Military Service).

• 2. Equality of All Persons – equality of opportunity and equality before the law. Not necessarily equality of conditions.

Majority Rule – Minority Rights

• 3. Majority Rule, Minority Rights – democracy argues that a majority of people will be right more often than they are wrong – majority rule restrained by minority rights.

Compromise

• 4. Necessity of Compromise – public decision making is largely a matter of give-and-take among competing interests. Compromise is process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests

examples: Social security compromise

Individual Freedom

• 5. Individual freedom – not complete freedom because could lead to anarchy.

• The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

• American economic system often called the free enterprise system:

• 4 fundamental factors:• 1. private ownership• 2. individual initiative• 3. profit• 4. competition

How the System Works

• Free enterprise system – capitalism – private enterprise – market based system are terms used interchangeably

• Decisions about what, how much, price are made by the market (NOT GOVERNMENT) through law of supply and demand.

• Law of supply and demand states when supplies become plentiful, prices drop and vice-versa.

Government and the Free Enterprise System

• Basis of American economic system is free market, but government regulates and promotes. This is called a mixed economy.

• Examples: pure food and drug laws, pollution laws

Chapter 1 Sec. 3Basic Concepts of Democracy

5 Notions• 1. Worth of the individual – fundamental

importance of individual – regardless of station in life. At times, the welfare of some is less important than the interests of the many

Examples: paying taxes, stop signs, registering for draft (Military Service).

• 2. Equality of All Persons – equality of opportunity and equality before the law. Not necessarily equality of conditions.

Majority Rule – Minority Rights

• 3. Majority Rule, Minority Rights – democracy argues that a majority of people will be right more often than they are wrong – majority rule restrained by minority rights.

Compromise

• 4. Necessity of Compromise – public decision making is largely a matter of give-and-take among competing interests. Compromise is process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests

examples: Social security compromise

Individual Freedom

• 5. Individual freedom – not complete freedom because, which could lead to anarchy.

• The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

• American economic system often called the free enterprise system:

• 4 fundamental factors:

•1. private ownership

•2. individual initiative

•3. profit

•4. competition

How the System Works

• Free enterprise system – capitalism – private enterprise – market based system are terms used interchangeably

• Decisions about what, how much, price are made by the market (NOT GOVERNMENT) through law of supply and demand.

• Law of supply and demand states when supplies become plentiful, prices drop and vice-versa.

Government and the Free Enterprise System

• Basis of American economic system is free market, but government regulates and promotes. This is called a mixed economy.

• Examples: pure food and drug laws, pollution laws