Foundations of Our Political System. Mrs. Waid

Transcription

1 Foundations of Our Political System Mrs. Waid

2 What Are Politics and Government? A. Government is one of humanity s oldest and most universal institutions. No society has existed without some form of government, and the need for authority and organization will never disappear. B. Most definitions of politics begin with the assumption that social conflict is inevitable. 1. Resolving conflicts over how the society should use its scarce resources and who should receive various benefits is the essence of politics. Politics is the process of determining who gets what, when, and how in a society. (Harold Lasswell)

3 Essential Questions 1. What are politics and government? 2. What are the three purposes of government and give an example for each.

4 What Are Politics and Government? A. Government can best be defined as the individuals and institutions that make society s rules and that also possess the power and authority to enforce those rules. B. Generally in any country, government serves at least three essential purposes. 1. Resolving conflicts: a. Governments have power the ability to influence the behavior of others. Governments typically also have authority, which they can exercise only if their power is legitimate. Authority means power that is collectively recognized and accepted by society as legally and morally correct

5 Three Purposes of Government 1. Resolving conflicts: a. Gov ts have power the ability to influence the behavior of others. b. Gov ts typically also have authority(authority means power that is collectively recognized and accepted by society as legally and morally correct). 2. Providing public services a. Some public services are provided equally to all citizens. Other services are provided only to citizens who are in need at a particular time, even though they are paid for by all citizens through taxes. 3. Defending the nation and its culture a. Matters of national security and defense have been given high priority by governments. b. In defending the nation against attacks by other nations, a government helps to preserve a nation s culture, as well as its integrity as an independent unit.

6 Practice Multiple choice 1. Resolving conflicts over what society s priorities should be is the essence of a.power. b.authority. c. politics d.capitalism. e.war. 2. According to political scientist Harold Lasswell, is the process of determining who gets what, when, and how in a society. a.government b.authority c.power d.political culture e.politics 3. Government can best be defined as: a.an experiment in social conflict. b.the individuals and institutions that make society s rules and that also possess the power and authority to enforce those rules. c. an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society. d. a group of agencies that encourage social conflict. e. the institutions that have been created to maintain the power of the ruling elite. 4. Which of the following is not considered a major role of government? a.resolve conflicts so that public order is maintained b.defend the country c. Provide public goods d.run private industry e.provide security

7 What Are the Different Forms of Government? Essential Questions: What are the characteristics of the following forms of government?

8 Autocracy Autocracy the power and authority of gov t are in the hands of a single person. 1. Monarchy gov t by a king, queen, emperor. a. Historically, many monarchies were absolute monarchies in which the ruler held complete and unlimited power. b. theory of divine right, said that God gave those of royal birth the unlimited right to govern other men and women, was widely accepted in 18th century Europe. (Louis XIV of France, Louis XVI of France) c. Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies, in which the monarch shares governmental power with elected lawmakers. 2. Dictatorship a single leader rules, although not typically through inheritance.( Kim Jong Un of North Korea, Saddam Hussein of Iraq was a dictator) a. Dictators often gain supreme authority by using force. b. A dictatorship can be totalitarian the leader seeks to control almost all aspects of social and economic life. (Hitler, Mussolini & Stalin of USSR).

9 Democracy Democracy rule by the people. Gov t exists only by the consent of the people and reflects the will of the majority. 1. Direct democracy people participate directly in government decision making.(ancient Greece) 2. Representative democracy (a republic is a representative democracy with no monarch) the will of the majority is expressed through smaller groups of individuals elected by the people to act as their representatives.(ancient Rome) a. In a presidential democracy, lawmaking and law-enforcing branches of government are separate but equal.(usa) b. In a parliamentary democracy, lawmaking and law-enforcing branches of government overlap.(united Kingdom)

10 Other forms of government 1. Aristocracy a government in which a small privileged class rules. 2. Plutocracy a government in which the wealthy exercise ruling power. 3. Theocracy the government rules according to religious precepts. There is no separation of church and state.

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