Government - Unit 1: Foundations of the American Government

what is a government?

an institution through which a society makes laws and enforces public policies

monarchy

a single ruler exercising supreme power based on heredity

theocracy

form of government headed by a religious leader

oligarchy

form of government where a small group of people holds the power

authoritarian / totalitarian / dictatorship

form of government in which a single person takes and exercises supreme power by force (military, police, etc.)

democracy

a form of government in which citizens exercise supreme power acting either directly or through representatives

preamble

• introduction to the us constitution

• states where the power comes from

• lists the goals of the us constitution

“we the people” definition and examples

people have the power

• voting

• jury duty

“form a more perfect union” definition and examples

act as one country

• single currency

“establish justice” definition and examples

laws are fair

• making laws

• innocent until proven guilty

“insure domestic tranquility” definition and examples

maintain peace within the us

• law enforcement

• the fbi

“provide for the common defence” definition and examples

protect us interests in the world

• military

• united nations

“promote general welfare” definition and examples

provide basic needs

• libraries

• roads

• 911

• social security

“secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity” definition and examples

protect our rights now and in the future

• freedom of speech, religion, etc.

athens

direct democracy

people would work to pass laws on their own

example: missouri’s government

rome

republic/representative democracy/indirect democracy

decisions made by representatives elected by the citizens

examples: us Congress, missouri general assembly, eureka city council

magna Carta (1215)

agreement between the english nobles and king John that limits the kings power

establishes the RULE OF LAW (no one is above the law)

examples: trial by jury, right to a lawyer, right to remain silent, search warrants, habeas corpus

habeas corpus

right of the accused to be brought before a judge and be charged with a crime (48 hours)

limited government

government is not all powerful

individuals have certain rights that cannot be taken away

example: bill of rights

thomas hobbes

first to see the government as a contract between the people and a ruler

people are naturally selfish, nasty, and mean

need a strong leader (monarch) to protect from ourselves

people give up some freedom to an absolute ruler in exchange for peace and order (protection)

john locke

all people are equal

all people have certain natural rights that cannot be taken away

examples: life liberty and the pursuit of happiness/property, social contract theory, declaration of independence

social contract theory

people give up some rights or freedoms to the government. the government is to protect those rights, if not the people can overthrow their government