Understanding the Essentials of Government: Concepts and Purposes
This course explores the fundamental purposes and origins of government, including key theories that explain its establishment. Students will learn about the main functions of government, fundamental constitutional principles, and the characteristics of various governance systems such as democracy, autocracy, and federalism. By analyzing historical contexts, including the American colonial experience and founding philosophies, learners will gain an essential understanding of political institutions and their roles in society, leading to more informed civic engagement.
Understanding the Essentials of Government: Concepts and Purposes
E N D
Presentation Transcript
What is the purpose? • What is it that you SHOULD learn from a government course? • WHY? • On a scale of 1-10, how much would you say you know about government already?
Focus questions 1-1 ( p. 5)ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • What are the four main purposes of government? • How do various theories explain the origin of government? • What were the major intellectual, philosophical, political, and religious traditions that influenced the American founders?
Focus questions 1-2 ( p. 12)ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • What are the similarities and differences between a unitary government and a federal government system? • What are the main purposes of a constitution? • The US Constitution is the oldest written constitution still in use. What does this imply about the stability of other world governments? Why?
Focus questions 1-3 ( p. 18)ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • What are the main characteristics of a democracy? • How does a representative democracy provide a good government for diverse peoples? • Describe autocracy, monarchy, and oligarchy. • What is a republic? How does this term pertain to our government?
AP Focus questions 1-1ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • Compare/contrast public and private goods. • Describe the balance between majority rule vs. minority rights. • What were the major intellectual, philosophical, political, and religious traditions that influenced the American founders?
Focus questions Ch2 ( pp. 35-58)ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • What events of the early American colonial experience led colonists to believe they would have representative government? • Which factors caused the British to allow the colonists to operate with little interference between 1607 and 1763? • Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution. • What was the Connecticut Compromise?
AP focus questions 2-3 ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • What events of the early American colonial experience led colonists to believe they would have representative government? • Which factors caused the British to allow the colonists to operate with little interference between 1607 and 1763? • Compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution. • What was the Connecticut Compromise?
Focus questions 1-1 ( p. 5)ALWAYS write questions and answers in spiral (back side of page). • What are the four main purposes of government? • How do various theories explain the origin of government? • What were the major intellectual, philosophical, political, and religious traditions that influenced the American founders?
AP Focus questions 1-2(Chapter 1 Sections 2-3). • What are the similarities and differences between a unitary government and a federal government system? • What does the term ‘politics’ mean? How would you describe politics in America? • Describe or diagram the policymaking system. • Why is free enterprise conducive to the growth of a democracy?
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT • What is anarchy? • Is anarchy really cool?
Pick a side: • Which do you feel BEST describes the overall development of world governments? • Force Theory • Evolution Theory
What are we actually going to learn? • Constitution • Founding • Theory • American Exceptionalism • Current events/politics
What are the essentials of getting through all of this? • BE HERE. The road to graduation goes through this course!!!! • Be prepared. • Have an electronic device that is internet-ready…we use them. • Always have your interactive notebook and pens/pencils.
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT • Government: institution through which society makes and enforces public policy
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT • Public policies: all those things a government decides to do • Examples: wage war, income tax, subsidize Miss USA
THE STATE • The state: group of people, defined territory, organized politically-some form of gvt • 4 characteristics: population, territory, sovereignty, government
THE STATE • Sovereignty: supreme and absolute power within state • Where it is located determines type of gvt • Examples
ORIGINS OF THE STATE • Force Theory: person or group claimed control over area, forced all to submit • When 4 basic characteristics met, state emerges
ORIGINS OF THE STATE • Evolutionary Theory: state developed naturally out of family • Network of relatives-clan • Family-smallest political unit
ORIGINS OF THE STATE • Divine Right Theory: God or gods create state and ruler or ruling class, family, etc.
ORIGINS OF THE STATE • Social Contract Theory, Thomas Hobbes: state of nature “nasty, brutish, and short” • People want safety
Social Contract Theory • To be safer, you must give up freedom • To be more free, you must give up safety
Social Contract Theory • Social Contract: society gives up some freedom to be safe • State arose out of voluntary act of free people
Social Contract Theory • People are the sole source of power • John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Jefferson
PURPOSE OF GVT • Preamble to Constitution • More Perfect Union • Establish Justice • Insure Domestic Tranquility • Provide for Common Defense
PURPOSE OF GVT • Promote the General Welfare • Secure the Blessings of Liberty
FORMS OF GVT • Classified in 3 ways
1. Who may Participate • Democracy: people hold the power • Autocracy: One person holds power-king, dictator • Oligarchy: small group holds power-Communist China
2. Where Power is Held • Unitary Gvt: Single, central agency holds power • Federal Gvt: Power divided central and local gvt • Confederation: alliance independent states
3. Relationship Between Executive and Legislative • Presidential Gvt: divides power between executive and legislative • Parliamentary Gvt: Legislative Br supreme, chooses executive branch
Concepts of Democracy • 1. Each person has value • 2. All are created equal • 3. Majority rule, minority rights
Concepts of Democracy • 4. Compromise competing interests • 5. Individual must have as much freedom as possible
Concepts of Democracy • Democracy- seen in economic system • Free Enterprise System: the people make the choices through supply and demand
POLITICAL BEGINNINGS • Us Gvt based on concepts of English Gvt • English colonists lived as English citizens, expected rights of full citizenship
Focus questions 2-1(Chapter 2 Sections 1-3). • Describe the English Bill of Rights and how it influenced our founding documents. • What is the separation of powers and why is it important? • Compare/contrast the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution.
ENGLISH CONCEPTS OF GVT • Ordered Gvt: orderly regulation of gvt to make society function • Limited Gvt: no one is above law; individual rights
ENGLISH CONCEPTS OF GVT • Representative Gvt: gvt should serve the will of the people
ENGLISH GVT EVOLVES • Magna Carta, 1215: King (John) does not have total power; right of trial by jury; due process