What is Government?
system or form by which a community/group/society is ruled.
Politics
The process by which society decides how power and resources will be distributed.
What is a state?
a state must have four things: population, territory, sovereignty, and a government.
state vs. nation
nation is an ethnic term; large body of people sharing a history, culture, ethnicity, language
population
a state must have people and the size of the pop. does not matter
territory
a state must have recognized and legal boundaries
sovereignty
supreme and absolute power within its own. decides its own domestic and foreign policy. each state within the US is not soveriegn
Government
agency that helps the state achieve its goals.
why does the government exist?
to protect against anarchy
theory #1 Divine Right
God created the state and God gave those of royal birth the "divine right" to rule.
theory #2 Force
One person or group claimed control and forced people to submit to that person or groups rule.
theory #3 Evolutionary
State developed out of family
theory #4 Social Contract
People give up some of their freedoms to promote safety and well being.
What does the gov do? #1 provides leadership
make decisions on behalf of the people
What does the gov do? #2 maintains order
control and contain conflict; enforces laws
What does the gov do? #3 provides public services
services individual cannot or would not do on our own
What does the gov do? #4 national security
protect people against attack
What does the gov do? #5 economic security
negotiates trade deals, protects/promotes businesses, encourages trade and development of natural resources.