Chapter 1-The Role of Government

I. Government & the Public Good

A. What is Government? 1. Establishes rules & regulations that govern everyday life 2. Other institutions set rules but Govt has the authority to set rules for people living in a state a. Government (govt) = an institution with the power to make & enforce rules for a group of people b. State = a political unit c. Citizens = members of a state d. Sovereignty = authority that a govt. has over its citizens e. Law = a set of rules made and enforced by govt, that is binding on society B. Origins of Govt. 1. Legitimacy = rightful authority govt. has over its citizens 2. Thomas Hobbes (1600's) a. 'People create the state by entering into a social contract.' b. People give up their individual sovereignty to the state. In exchange, the state provides peace & order 3. John Locke (1632-1704) a. English b. 'Contract creates limited government that relies on the consent of the governed' c. Govt. has legitimacy because people give it authority d. Govt.'s proper job is to secure people's Natural Rights (rights that people have just because they are human beings)

C. Functions of Govt. 1. Maintaining Order a. Enforcing laws that protect the safety & security of people & property b. Police officers doing their job c. Protection from unfair or harmful business practices d. National Security 2. Providing Services 3. Resolving Conflict a. Govts use achieve compromise through politics b. Politics = the process by which people participating in govt. express opinions about whatgovt. should do c. Court system (a part of govt.) has authority to enforce political decisions 4. Promoting Values a. Values = basic principles by which people act & live their lives b. Safety c. Equal opportunity d. Respect for individual rights e. A good education f. Personal responsibility D. The Public Good 1. Public interest or the well-being of society as a whole 2. Good govt tries to pursue policies that serve the public good 3. What is public good? a. Does the policy reflect narrow interests of a few?

II. Forms of Govt.

A. Sources of Authority 1. Monarchies a. Head of state is a hereditary position-usually a king or queen b. Constitutional Monarchy = hereditary ruler is a ceremonial head of state 2. Republics a. Govt's authority comes only from the people b. Govt made up of representatives elected by the people c. Democracy & Republic are often interchangeable words 3. Dictatorships a. Power is achieved & maintained through force & concentrated into the hands of a single person or a small group of people b. Leader's authority is based on political or military power and/or wealth c. Autocracy = 'rule by one'-single person holds power d. Oligarchy = 'rule by few'- small group of people holds power e. Authoritarian = rulers answer only to themselves f. Totalitarian = rulers seek complete control over all aspects of citizens' lives B. Power among Levels of Govt. 1. Unitary Systems a. All legal power is held by the national, or central, govt. b. Local govts have no independent powers 2. Federal Systems a. Powers are divided among national, state, & local govts

3. Confederal Systems a. Independent states join together to accomplish common goals b. May be no central govt. c. Members of confederation may set up a group to carry out agreed-upon policies d. EU (European Union) is confederation of 15 European nations who cooperate politically and economically C. Power within Levels of Govt. 1. Presidential Systems (US) a. Legislative branch - makes the law b. Executive branch - carries out the law & is usually headed by a president (chief executive) who is not chosen by the legislature 2. Parliamentary Systems (England) a. Chief executive (prime minister or premier) is chosen by parliament (legislative branch) b. Executive branch is made up of prime minister (or premier) & other officials appointed by parliament c. In some parliamentary systems, the head of state is a monarch

III. Foundations of Democracy

A. Benefits of Democracy 1. Allowing Choice a. Lets people take responsibility for their lives b. Choices made through free & fair elections c. Choice carries responsibility 2. Recognizing Individual Worth

a. Each person's views should be considered & valued b. All citizens have the chance to participate c. Equality of opportunity does not mean equality of results 3. Promoting Respect for the Law a. People who participate in govt. will respect laws b. Democracy allows people to challenge fairness of laws c. Anarchy = a state of political disorder resulting from the absence of rules or govt. 4. Protecting Minority Rights a. Majority rule = decisions are based on the desire of more than half of the membership of a group b. Minority rights = political rights that cannot be abolished in a democracy even though they are held by less than half of the population B. Forms of Democracy 1. Direct Democracy a. Laws are made by all citizens (town hall meeting) 2. Representative Democracy a. People elect representatives to conduct the business of govt. for them b. Govt. officials answer to the voters c. If citizens are unhappy with their representatives, they vote someone else into office