What is a government?
it is the system by which a state or community is controlled
What is a state?
it is a state of body living in a defined area within a government and the power to govern themselves
What are the 4 major theories about the origin of the state?
-Force theory
-Evolution theory
-Divine right
-Social contract
Force theory:
state created by a force. ex: dictatorship
Evolution theory:
natural outgrowth of families. ex: tribes.. large=complex
Divine right:
believe that god or gods created state. ex:pharaohs in egypt, greeks, and kings in england..
-people believe that god chooses who will be the leader
Social contract:
humans organize state to ensure survival
What is the purpose of the government?
to serve the citizens
3 ways governments can be classified by:
-geographic distribution of power
-relationship between legislative and executive
-the number of people participating in a government
1st way governments can be classified by..
geographic distribution of power... ex: can be in a castle, with time spread for more people bc they would come to the castle for any little thing
2nd way governments can be classified by..
relationship between legislative (makes laws) and executive (enforces them)
3rd way governments can be classified by..
the number of people participating in a government
-the least people that participate in a government--> autocracy
Geographic distribution of power consists of 3 basic forms
-unitary
-federal
-confederation
Unitary:
all power in a single agency
Federal:
power divided between a central and local government.. ex: washington d.c.
Confederation:
alliance of independent states..
-they choose to do what they want and don't lose power
Relationship between legislative and executive consists of two types:
parliamentary or presidential form
Parliamentary:
members of the legislative are also members of the executive.. ex: england
Presidential:
the legislative and the executive are separate.. ex: U.S.
Government can be classified by the percentage of citizens who can participate:
democracy and dictatorship
Democracy
people have power
Dictatorship
people have no power
5 basic concepts of democracy:
-recognition of the worth and dignity of each person
-respect for the equality of each person
-faith in majority rule with insistence on minority rights
-acceptance of the need to compromise
-insistence upon the widest degree of individual freedom
1st basic concept of democracy:
recognition of the worth and dignity of each person (U.S. believes in this)
2nd basic concept of democracy:
respect for the equality of each person
3rd basic concept of democracy:
faith in majority rule with insistence on minority rights (can't take right from minorities--> have to treat them with dignity)
4th basic concept of democracy:
acceptance of the need to compromise
5th basic concept of democracy:
insistence upon the widest degree of individual freedom (U.S. believes that individuals should have as much freedom as possible)
To ensure the country survival as a democracy, we must __________ and __________ the principles
respect;apply
types of government:
dictatorship
military junta
autocracy
democracy
unitary government
monarchy
confederation
presidential government
totalitarian government
absolute monarchy
parliamentary government
oligarchy
constitutional monarchy
democratic republic
federal government
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