AP gov and pol unit 1

government

the institutions and processes through which a society makes and enforce public decisions

6 functions of government

1. maintain order

2. protect rights

3. provide public goods

4. resolve conflict

5. make collective decisions

6. protect the community

nation states

the area that a national government operates

nation states must have… (4)

1. territory

2. population

3. sovereign; authority to govern territory and population without interference with other nations

4. legitimate; other nations must recognize its authority

politics

the process of influencing the actions and policies of a government

political culture

the shared beliefs, values, traditions, and expectations that shape political life; what people believe the gov. should be and do but not everyone agrees with these

limited government

a political system in which there are certain restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights and liberty; ex) checks and balances

enlightment

an intellectual and philosophical movement in the 17th—18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and pursuit of knowledge

what did the enlightenment contribute to..

1. modern democratic societies

2. principles of limited government

3. rule of law

core values transferred to colonist.. (3)

1. self-government

2. equality

3. liberalism

t. hobbes; leviathan

• people are born naturally selfish, competitive, and evil

• no govt. = chaos (state of nature) → why he supported absolute power

  • hence social contract; people give some freedoms in exchange for safety and protection; so the govt. is chosen because of people, not through divine right of kings.

j. locke; 2 treaties of govt

• govt. exist to protect rights, if govt. fails, people can overthrow (right of revolution)

• we are born with natural rights: life, liberty, and property

influenced DOI by serving as justification to break away from br.; idea if limited govt. and consent of governed

montesquieu; spirit of the laws

• avoiding tyranny = divided power

• believed in checks and balances

Influenced constitution with 3 branches, implementing checks and balances

rousseau; popular sovereignty

• social contract legitimate government authority comes from the general will of the people

• govt must reflect popular sovereignty; citizens give up freedoms for greater goods

Influenced constitution with “we the people”; idea of democracy and govt'. accountability

voltaire; free expressions and intolerance

• treaties of tolerance; advocate for freedom of speech, religion, and tolerance

• influential in french revolution

Influenced the 1st amendments and foundation of american pluralism and civil liberties