Government Types and Origins

Types of Government

Rousseau's View on Freedom

• Rousseau: "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."
  • Our rights are inherent, not granted by the government.
  • Despite this natural freedom, governments impose rules.

Three Main Types of Government

Dictatorship

• Absolute government control.
• The government exists to perpetuate itself.
• Disregards the rights and needs of the people.
• Forms:
  • Autocracy: Ruled by one person.
  • Oligarchy: Ruled by a small group.
• Examples:
  • North Korea.
  • Saudi Arabia (traditional absolute monarchy).
  • Iran (theocracy - religious controlled government).
  • Venezuela, Cuba (limited rights).

Democracy

• Pure Direct Democracy:
  • Every citizen participates in government decisions.
  • Infeasible in America due to size and population (over $300,000,000$).

Republic (Representative Democracy)

• People are served by elected representatives.
• Also referred to as:
  • Representative democracy.
  • Indirect democracy.

Democratic Republic (Hybrid of Democracy and Republic)

• Examples of democratic aspects:
  • Elections for president, senators, and representatives.
• Example: Missouri's Sixth District representative: Sam Graves. Senator: Josh Hawley.
• Voting gives people a voice in who makes policy.
• Elected officials make decisions that determine what people can and cannot do.

Limited vs. Unlimited Government

• Limited Government (e.g., US):
  • Based on a contract with the people (the Constitution).
  • The Constitution begins with "We the People."
  • Popular Sovereignty: Power originates with the people.
• Unlimited Government (e.g., Dictatorships, Autocracies, Oligarchies):
  • Absolute power; the people are not the source of power.
  • The government can do whatever it wants.
• Checks on US government power:
  • Court system.
  • The people (voting, protesting, obeying laws).

Theories of Government Origin

Social Contract Theory

• People are born with rights.
• Government is created to secure these rights.
• Philosophers:
  • Hobbes:
    • Man is born into a state of nature (absence of government).
    • Without government, there is no security, law, or order.
    • Absolute freedom, but no security.
    • No property ownership.
    • People are naturally selfish and greedy.
    • Life in a state of nature is "nasty, brutish, and short."
    • Man is the enemy of every other man.
  • John Locke:
    • People are naturally good and want to enjoy their freedom.
    • People agree to a contract establishing a government.
    • Government derives authority from the consent of the people.
    • Government is only legitimate if it has the consent of the people.
    • Laws limit people's actions to ensure overall security and freedom.
    • Examples: driving laws, property laws.

Influence on the Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson (influenced by Locke):
  • All men are created equal with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  • Governments are instituted to secure these rights.

What is Government

A state has four characteristics:

1. Territory
2. Sovereignty
3. Government
4. Population

Five Governments You Live Under

1. The United States of America.
2. The State (e.g., Missouri).
3. The County (e.g., Platt County).
4. The City (e.g., Kansas City, Parkville).
5. The School District (e.g., Park Hill School District).

• Each of these has territory, government, sovereignty, and a population.

Section One Key Takeaways

• Focus on the information discussed regarding types of government and characteristics of a state.
• The preamble of The United States constitution and its five objectives will be discussed further unit 2.