Why Government?

American Government Study Guide

Thomas Hobbes

An English scholar and philosopher, born in 1588, from a wealthy family, had access to books, traveled often, met important thinkers, and tried to answer the question “why do we have a government.”

State of Nature

Everyone has a right to everything, war with everyone else, stealing, and fear.

Social Contract

Between people and their government, an agreement in which both sides agree to something in order to reach a shared goal.

Sovereign

Means having the highest power or authority, especially over a country or territory. It can also refer to a ruler like a king or queen. (Independent and in control)

Sovereignty

Means the full right and power of a country or ruler to govern itself without outside control. (Self-rule and independence)

Monarchy

It is a system of government where one person—usually a monarch, such as a king or queen—rules the country, often for life and by birthright. (Rule by a royal leader)

John Locke

Considered being a minister, career as a doctor, ended up as a philosopher. Born in 1632, influenced Thomas Jeferson with his writings which made Thomas make the declaration of independence, Locke’s ideas show up in our own constitution.

Tabula Rasa

A blank slate or page gets filled up with a person’s experiences with the five senses, people learn and develop differently because they are exposed to different things.

Natural Rights

That human beings share; The right to life, liberty, and property.

Life

Refers to the fact that people want to live and will fight to survive.

Liberty

Means that people want to be as free as possible to make their own decisions.

Property

Represents the fact that people want to own things that help them survive. (Land, food, and tools.)

Purpose of Government

The need for distribution of power in a society. End the state of nature and give people certain protections. (Safety and happiness; Safety/Security/Protection)

What is Government?

Formal structure and institution through decisions are made for the people.

Government Component: People

Govt- elected and civil servants

Government Component: Power

Govt. ability to get things done

Government Component: Power (Types Of Power)

1. Make laws

2. Enforce Laws

3. Judge laws (constitutionally)

Government Component: Policy

Decisions made by government to achieve a particular goal.

Definition of a State

Political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a defined territory.

Characteristics of a State

1. Population - people

2. Territory - defined

3. Govt. - organized

4. Sovereignty - power to make and enforce laws.

Forgottonia

Represented a protest against the unfairness in state and federal funding of infrastructure communications and economic development in the region after World War 2.

Neil Gamm

Was the symbolic “Governor” of Forgottonia, a satirical protest movement in 1970s Illinois.

Fandom

Is the capital of the fictional Republic of Forgottonia.

Functions of the Government

1. Order/Security

2. Resolving conflict

3. Services (taxes)

4. Providing for the public good

Uinitary System

A system of government where all power is held by a central authority. Local governments exist, but they only have powers the central government chooses to give them.

One strong national government controls everything; local governments follow its lead.

Confederal System

A government system where power is held by independent states, and the central government has only limited authority granted by those states.

States are in charge—central government is weak and only does what the states allow.

Federal System

A government where power is shared between a central authority and regional (state or local) governments. Each level has its own responsibilities.

National and state governments both have power—they work together but also independently.

Parliamentary

A government where the executive (prime minister) is chosen by and accountable to the legislature (parliament), not directly by the people. (Executive and Legislative combined)

The parliament runs the show—chooses the leader and can remove them anytime.

Presidential

A government where the president is elected separately from the legislature and serves as both head of state and head of government

Executes policy, elected by people, limited term, leader of executive branch, appoints cabinet, shares power with legislative.

Communist State

It’s a form of government that has only a single political party, the communist party.

Ex: Cuba

Presidential Republic

A political system where the leaders are chosen, usually by a vote of the people, and those leaders rule the people.

Ex: United States

Parliamentary Republic

States that were previously constitutional monarchies with a parliamentary system.

Ex: Canada

Direct Democracy

The people decide on polices without any intermediary or representative, whereas in a representative democracy, people vote for representatives who then enact policy initiatives.

Ex: Switzerland

Constitutional Monarchy (with ceremonial monarch)

May provide continuity and stability, provide a unifying non-partisan representative of the state, and reinforce democratic legitimacy, with other sources of authority, including traditional and in some cases religious authority.

Ex: Japan

Absolute Monarchy

The king or queen is not limited and has absolute power. Often such monarchies are hereditary.

Ex: Vatican City

Authoritarian (or) Dictatorship

Implies absolute power, one person who takes control of a political situation a family. a classroom or even a camping expedition.

Ex: Hitler in Germany

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests’ rule in the name of God or a god.

Ex: Iran

Oligarchy

A small group of people having control of a country, organizations, or institution.

Ex: China

Autocracy

A government where one person holds absolute power and makes decisions without input from others.

Monarchy

A system of government where a king or queen rules, often inheriting power by birthright.

Dictatorship

A form of government where one leader has total power, often gained and kept by force

Democracy

Is a system of government where people have the power to make decisions, usually by voting. (Rule by the people.)

Representative Democracy

A system where citizens elect leaders to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens vote on laws and policies themselves, rather than through elected representatives.

Anarchy

A state of society without government or laws, often marked by disorder or freedom from authority.

(Democracy) Ideal- Liberty

Do as you please

(Democracy) Ideal- Equality

A fundamental moral worth

(Democracy) Ideal- Self-Government

Govern themselves/ being able to make your own decisions

Principles

The foundation for a system of beliefs or a chain of reasoning.

Number 1 principle of democracy is…

Worth of individual

Number 2 principle of democracy is…

Rule of law

Number 3 principle of democracy is…

Majority rule, minority rights

Number 4 principle of democracy is…

Compromise

Number 5 principle of democracy is…

Citizen participation

Free Enterprise

Economic Choice/Economic Freedom

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation (Pinkie Finger)

Weakest central Govt

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation (Ring Finger)

Lacked the ability to raise revenue (money)

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation (Middle Finger)

Concept of disputes; No judicial reserved disputes

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation (Pointer Finger)

Quarrelling = No leadership

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation (Thumb)

No respect among the states (Concept of Power)

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation (Knuckles)

Daniel Shays Rebellion (Woke up people minds to seeing Confederal gov was weak.)

Constitution of the U.S of America (Positives): “Land Ordinance of 1785”

• Land severed - Township/Sections

• One section in the township set aside for public education

Constitution of the U.S of America (Positives): “Northwest Ordinance of 1787”

• Prohibited Slavery