Chapter 1 Gov

What is a government?

institution through which leaders exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the people under its control

What are the functions of government?

providing leadership, maintaining order, providing public services, providing national services, providing economic security/assistance

What is a nation?

sizable group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition or religion

What is a state/country?

a political community that occupies a definite territory & has an organized government

What are some factors that define a state/country?

population, territory, sovereignty, government

What is sovereignty?

supreme power within its own land

What is the evolutionary theory?

head of family = head of state (like in a monarchy)

What is the force theory?

state created by force (like the US)

What is the Divine Right Theory?

gods (or God) choose ruler (like in Ancient Egypt)

What is the social contract theory?

people make “contract” with government

Who are two “sides” (people) to the social contract theory?

Thomas Hobbes, John Locke

What did Thomas Hobbes say/believe in?

People surrender freedom to the state, in return they receive order & security. The ideal government is an absolute monarchy

What did John Locke say/believe in?

People had natural rights; government protects those rights or people can/should rebel. The best form of government is a democracy

What is a unitary government and give some examples?

central/national gov’t with all key powers (Japan, France, Bolivia)

What is a confederacy government and give some examples?

a loose union of independent states (U.S. under Articles of Confederation, Confederacy, Micronesia)

What is a federal government and give some examples?

power divided between national, state & local governments (US)

What is an authoritarian/totalitarian government?

government controls all political, economic & social lives of citizens

What are two forms of authoritarian/totalitarian governments?

dictatorship and oligarchy

What is a dictatorship and give some examples?

one person has control (Nazi Germany, North Korea)

What is an oligarchy and give some examples?

small group has control (Vietnam, Soviet Union)

What is a monarchy and give some examples?

King/Queen/Emperor rules (medieval England/France, Swaziland)

What is a democracy and give some examples?

rule by the people, either directly or indirectly (US, ancient Greece)

What are the principles of democracy?

• Citizen participation

• Free & fair elections

• Accepting the election results

• The Rule of Law

• Majority rule with minority rights

• Accountability

• Transparency

• Limited government & a Bill of Rights

• Control of abuse of power

• Economic freedom

• Equality

• Individual rights

• Independent judiciary

• Competing political parties