Monday February 9th, 2015

Happy Charity Week!!

Test Wednesday (Film Festival or not)
Review Tuesday (due Wednesday)

Weekends?!
Agenda
Notes Finish Chapter 1
Essential Question
Worksheet

1-1 Pictures
1. Characteristics of a State
1.
2.
3.
4.

Territory
Population
Sovereignty
Government

2. Origins of the State

1.
2.
3.
4.

Evolution Theory
Force Theory
Devine Right Theory
Social Contract Theory

3. Principles of government
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Provide for the common defense

Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Form a More Perfect Union
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Establish Justice
Promote the General Welfare

4. Types of Government
1.
2.

Democracy
Dictatorship

Chapter 1 Section 2
Types of Government

Review
What is a government?
What is a state?
What is the goal of a government?

Classifying Governments
Governments can be classified in three different
ways:
Who can participate?
Geographic distribution of power
The relationship between the legislative and
executive branches

Who can Participate?

Democracy (power rests in the
people)
Direct Democracy:
All people meet and have their voice
heard in person
Works in small communities
Known as a pure democracy

Indirect Democracy:
Representatives are voted upon to
voice the will of the general public
Used for large groups of people

Who can participate continued

Dictatorship (not responsible
to the will of the people)
Autocracy:
A single person has unlimited power

Oligarchy:
Small, elite group has total power
Usually self appointed

*All dictatorships are authoritarian

(hold absolute, unchallengeable
power)
*Modern dictatorships are
totalitarian (rule ALL aspects of life)
*Usually militaristic

Geographical Distribution of Power

Unitary Government (centralized government): all power is
belongs to a single, central agency
Local governments are only for convenience, hold no real power
Dont confuse with a dictatorship

Federal Government: power is divided between the central

government and several local governments
An authority superior to both the central and local govs (the
Constitution in the U.S)
makes this division of powers on a geographic basis
This is the form of government the U.S. has

Confederate Government: an alliance of independent states

The central government only handles matters that members assign to it
This is very rare (ex. European Union)

Relationship between the Legislative and

Executive Branches
Presidential Government
1. All branches are:
Separate
Independent
Coequal

2. President is chosen independent of the legislature

3. President holds office for a fixed term
4. President cannot control or be controlled by the
legislature
***The U.S. is the leading example of a Presidential
government in the world.
***The U.S. created this type of government

Parliamentary Government
The executive branch is made up of the prime minister and his/her cabinet
Both the prime minister and the cabinet are part of the legislature (called
the parliament)
Prime Minister selects the cabinet from the parliament
***Note that the executive is therefore chosen from within the legislature and
by the legislature and is subject to direct control

Prime Minister only remains in office with the confidence of the majority
If the parliament defeats the Prime Minister and cabinet on a an important
issue, they may receive a vote of no confidence and then must resign
A new government must form, chosen either by the parliament or a general
election
***Parliamentary form of government avoids deadlock between the executive
and legislature

Chapter 1 Section 3
Basic Concepts of Democracy

A Closer Look at Democracy

Democracy is based on five basic
notions/foundations:
A recognition of the fundamental
worth and dignity of every
person
A respect for the equality of all
persons
A faith in majority rule and an
insistence upon minority rights
An acceptance of the necessity of
compromise
An insistence upon the widest
possible degree of individual
freedom

Worth of the Individual

Each person, no matter
their station in life is a
separate distinct being
Dignity and worth are at the
heart of democracy
***There are times when
the welfare of one is
subordinate to the welfare
of many

Equality of all Persons

All people are created
equal
Democracy does NOT
insist on equality of
condition
Democracy does insist
upon:
equality of opportunity
equality before the law

Majority Rule, Minority Rights

Will of the people rules, not demands of the
ruling
Democracy does NOT say that the majority
will is always right or will arrive at the best
answer

Democracy searches for satisfactory solutions

to public problems
Majority rule must:

Be restrained by minority rights

Be willing to listen to a minoritys argument
Hear a minoritys objections
Bear a minoritys criticisms
Welcome a minoritys suggestions

Necessity of Compromise
Compromise is necessary
to find position most
acceptable to the largest
number
Compromise is essential
because:
It puts the needs of the
individual first, yet,
maintains equality among all
Most public problems can be
solved multiple ways

Individual Freedom
Democracy does not allow for
complete individual freedom
(this would be anarchy)
Democracy insists each person
is free to do as he/she pleases
so far as the freedom of all will
allow
Must be a balance between
freedom for the individual and
the rights of society as a whole

Chapter 1 Essential Question:

Is Government necessary?