Government

Natural Law and Divine Right of Kings

Origins and Ideas of Government
1. Aristotle (384-322 B.C)
  - Advocated that the Church should govern; God determines right and wrong.
2. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
  - Opposed kingship; argued that governance should follow the Church's principles - faced persecution for his views.
3. Natural Law
  - Proposes that human affairs should be governed by ethical principles (e.g., prohibition of murder, rape, robbery).
Divine Right of Kings
1. Kings are ordained by God, tasked with overseeing people.
2. The Church legitimizes kingship, creating a potential for a singular state religion.
The Enlightenment Thinkers
1. Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
  - Believed in applying reason and science to improve society.
  - Advocated for religious toleration and questioned established beliefs about governance.

Search for Religious Freedom
- Colonies sought to establish their own religious and governance systems. Each colony had unique religious views.
Key Social Contract Theorists
1. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
  - Asserted that government is essential due to human selfishness and constant conflict.
2. John Locke (1632-1704)
  - Proposed social contract theory where individuals are equal and consent to governance as a natural right.
Goals of Government
1. Legitimate use of force
  - Control behavior within territorial boundaries through laws and enforcement.
2. Maintain Order
  - Preserve life and property, enforce laws, punish lawbreakers.
3. Provide Public Goods
  - Deliver essential services and programs that enhance societal well-being.
4. Promote Equality
  - Ensure that political participation is equal (one person, one vote).

Political Ideological Orientation
- Opportunity: Programs for equal chances in life (anti-discrimination laws).
- Outcome: Programs ensuring equal results (quotas in education and healthcare).
Dilemmas
1. Original Dilemma
  - Balancing order with the trade-off of freedom.
2. Modern Dilemma
  - Balancing equality at the cost of personal freedom.
Debate on Death Penalty
- Perspectives from Libarals, Conservatives, Libertarians, and Populists.
Classifications of Government
1. Rule by One: Monarchy -> Autocracy
2. Rule by Few: Oligarchy -> Aristocracy
3. Rule by Many: Democracy -> Polyarchy

Majoritarian Theory
1. Direct Democracy
  - Citizens participate directly in government decisions.
2. Representative Democracy
  - Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Procedural View of Democracy
- Universal participation, political equality, majority rule, mechanisms for accountability (e.g., elections).
Substantive View
- Considers what decisions are made, civil liberties provided, and minority rights protected.
Decision Making
1. Key Aspects
  - Small government, universal participation, elections, informed voting, decisions via majority rule.

Pluralist Theory
- Many groups participate in governance; decisions reflect the most represented group.
Elite Theory
- Argues that the U.S. is an oligarchy dominated by a power elite (corporate, military, select government officials).
Economic Political Systems
1. Totalitarianism
  - Complete government control over resources and businesses (e.g., North Korea).
2. Communism
  - Government control of all businesses and regulation of wages and prices.
3. Socialism
  - Co-ownership of the economy with government control over key industries.
4. Capitalism
  - Private ownership with regulatory oversight from the government.
5. Libertarianism
  - Unregulated private ownership; government role limited to law enforcement.
6. Anarchism
  - Absence of government completely.

Definition of Politics
- The process of allocating limited resources; it defines winners and losers within society.
- Government’s role is pivotal in determining the distribution of resources and opportunities.