Transcript Chapter 1

American Government Section 1
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Aristotle was one of the first students of
government
Helped create a political system
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A state a simply a political community that
has territory and a government system with
the right to make and enforce laws
The term the United States was used first in
1776
◦ 13 British Colonies declared independence
◦ At this time states saw themselves as a country
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It is a group of people who are united by
common bonds of race, language, and
customs
Features of a state:
1. population, the people that make up a
state (NOTE: the nature of a population
affects its stability)
Most successful states are the ones that share
a general political and social consensus (ex:
democratic government)
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2. Territory, the established boundaries for
the United States of the Atlantic, Pacific,
Canada and Mexico (normally causes conflicts
because of war, purchases and negotiations)
3. Sovereignty, it is a key characteristic of a
state
◦ It means that the state has supreme and absolute
authority within their territorial boundaries
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4. Government, every state has some form of
government which maintains social order,
provides public services and enforces
decisions
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1. Evolutionary Theory, the state evolved from
the family
The head of a primitive family was the
authority that served as a government
Could include 100’s of people
2. Force, emerged when all the people of one
area were brought under the authority of one
person or group through war or force
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3. Divine Right Theory, gods chose certain
people to rule
The Egyptians, Chinese and Aztecs believed
in this
4. Social Contract Theory, only by contract
did a government exist
People surrendered to the state voluntarily to
maintain order
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Thomas Hobbes was the first to theorize the
theory
John Locke extended Hobbes views
Said people had the right to get rid of
government who failed to preserve their
rights
Emphasized centuries later in the colonies
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1. maintains order ( people still can not live
amongst each other with conflict)
People take advantage of others
Steal from each other
Provide court systems, taxes etc.
2. providing public services such as sewer
systems, enforce laws and promote public
health and safety
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3. Provide National Security, protect people
from attack by other states or from terrorism
Complex now
Makes treatise with other countries and deals
with trade agreements
4. Making economic decisions, government is
responsible for trying to stabilize wealth and
poverty
Types of Systems
The unitary system- all key powers are given to
the national government
-the national government creates other types
of governments such as state or local and
gives them limited sovereignty
Examples: Great Britain, Italy and France
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First the United States was a confederacy,
which is a LOOSE union if independent states
It failed under the Articles of Confederation
because it did not provide a strong national
government
Shay’s Rebellion anyone?
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Federal System
Powers are divided between national and
state government
Each level of government has sovereignty in
some area
Used in the US after the 13 colonies were
developed
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Soon it will be ruled by the Constitution,
which is a plan that provides for the rules of
government
For the United States it gave supreme rule to
the national government while giving state
power as well
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1. sets out ideals people believe in and share
2. defines government powers and duties and
establishes structure
3. provides the Supreme Law for the country
Most constitutions are written but they can
also be spoken and follow history
In a sense, every government has a
constitution, or a plan for organizing and
operating the government
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Government where the constitution has
authority to place clear limits on the powers
of those who govern
This means its limited!
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Most constitutions are incomplete guides
because:
1. no constitution can spell out all the laws,
customs and ideas that grow up around the
document
Example: FDR 4 turns, 22nd amendment
2. a constitution does not always reflect the
actual practice of government in a country
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Almost all constitutions have:
◦ 1. most have a statement that sets goals and
purposes usually called a preamble (WE THE
PEOPLE)
◦ 2. most have a main framework or body of the
Constitution that sets out the plan of government
◦ Normally divided into articles or sections
◦ US has 7 articles
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Normally seen as the highest form of law
because it draws its authority from the people
Constitutional Law- concerned with defining
the extent and limits of government power
and the rights of the citizens
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Politics is a necessary evil
It is the effort to control or influence the
conduct and policies of government
The Constitution did not prevent political
parties to exist
Political parties actually developed over the
ratification of the Constitution
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People get involved with politics because they
realize that the government can influence
their lives
Different people make different demands and
interests
Politics offers a peaceful way for them or
people to compete with each other
It is the democratic way to get things done
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Two types of nations:
1. industrialized nations: they are generally
large industries and advanced technology
that provide a comfortable way of life
2. developing nations: are nations only
starting to develop industrially
Many have starvation, disease and political
turmoil
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Nations must interact with or depend on
another
This includes politically, socially and
economically
Example: NAFTA started in 1993
North America signed this with Canada and
Mexico to trade
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Most developing countries are dependent on
the US
Medical supplies
Financial investments
To cope with natural disasters
US in 200 exported $950 billion
Imported more than a trillion
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Major types of government that stood the test
of time:
1. autocracy is the oldest form and the most
common
The power is in the hands of one single
person
Normally remain in power because they use
force and are ruthless
A. Totalitarian dictatorship- seek to control all
aspects of life
 The government does not have to answer to
the people
 Examples are Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler
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B. monarchy is another form of autocratic
government
A king or queen exerts all supreme powers
Usually inherit their positions
◦ Absolute monarchs have complete rule over the
people and very few exist today
◦ Constitutional monarchs share powers with the
legislatures that were elected
◦ Examples would be Great Britain and Japan
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Small groups hold power
They get their power from the wealth and the
military
An example would be communist China
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Rule is with the people
People hold sovereignty
◦ 1. direct democracy people govern themselves by
voting individually
◦ Exists in small societies that have town meetings
◦ Examples would be New England
◦ 2. representative democracy is people elect
representatives and give them power and
responsibility to conduct government
◦ Good for large populations
◦ Most efficient way to insure right of the individual
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Republic- voters hold sovereign power
A system of limited government where the
people are the ultimate source
Many countries misuse the word
“DEMOCRACY”
For example North Korea is an oligarchy ruled
by communists but they are called the
Democratic Republic of Korea
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1. Individual Liberty- people are as free as
possible
Government works to promote equal
opportunity
2. majority rule with minority rightsrepresentatives do what the majority wants
while trying to take into consideration
minority
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Endo versus United StatesMitsuye Endo was a native born citizen
Fired from his job in California during WW II
Sent to relocation camp
Supreme Court ruled in favor of Endo
Said camps were unconstitutional
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3. Free Elections- the authority to create and
run the government rests with the people
All genuine democracies have free elections
They choose their leaders
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1. everyone carries the same weight (“One
person one vote”)
2. candidates express their votes and ideas
clearly
3. candidates are free to help with their
campaigns
4.Legal requirements to vote are minimal
5. citizens vote secretly so they don’t fear
punishments
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4. Competing Political Parties- any number of
parties can compete
Different ideas and beliefs
Ends up as mostly democrat or republican
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A lot of nations do not practice democracy
because it is hard to perfect
First you must have:
◦ 1. active citizen participation
◦ 2. favorable economy, no extreme wealth or poor
rather a large middle class with free enterprise
(right to make economic decisions)
◦ 3. widespread education- democracies succeed
with educated populations
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4. strong civil society- need a complex
network of volunteers and economic groups
Example: Red Cross, Humane Society
5. Social Consensus- work best when people
accept democratic values
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Three things the government asks:
1. what and how much to produce
2. how to produce it
3. for whom
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1. capitalism- free individuals make
economic decisions
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private ownership and control of property
free enterprise
competition among business
freedom of choice
possibility to profit
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Trade routes opened
People began to invest money
With that came the development of classes
There was now incentive and progress
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Buyers and sellers were free to make
unlimited economic decisions
Adam Smith- Scottish philosopher and
economist who wrote “The Wealth of Nations”
It is the basis for laissez-faire, a French word
that means let alone or hands off
Government should keep their hands off
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Why?
The government has to have some control
over part of the economy
Coin our own money?
Government influence has increased:
Government is the single largest buyer of
goods
Regulates the economy (meat inspections)
Social Security System
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The government has minimal involvement
and influence in the economy
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2. Socialism- owns the basic means of
production
Determines use of resources
Responsible for higher education, health care
and welfare
Goals of socialism: 1. distribute wealth
evenly, 2. society controls through the
government, 3. public ownership of MOST
land and factories
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People have some control over government
through free elections
Government owns the basic means of
production
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3. communism- creates a classless society
No ownership of land or property
Karl Marx, believed in communism and the
separation of classes
◦ Bourgeoisie- capitalist who own the means of
production (the “haves”)
◦ Proletariat- workers, provided labor (the “have
nots”)
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Economic system in which the government
controls the factors of productioon