Principles of Gov
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Political Science
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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People and Government
Principles of Government
1.
When we think of a state, we think of 50 United States, but that isn't always so.
What is the
definition of a state?
A state is a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized
government with the power to and enforce laws without from any higher authority
2.
List and describe the three main features of a state.
a) population: nature of state’s population affects its stability, states where people share
a consensus about basic beliefs and values have the most stable government;
the distribution of the population can also affect the state, urban states might
have different policies than a rural one; shifts in population affect political
organization
b) territory: established boundaries, exact location or shape of political boundaries is
often a source of conflict among states; boundaries change as a result of war,
negotiation, or purchase
c) sovereignty: state has supreme and absolute authority within its boundaries; it has
complete independence and power to make laws, foreign policies, and determine
its course of action; in theory, no state has the right to interfere with the internal
affairs of another state; in theory, every state is equal with respect to legal rights
and duties, but in practice, states with great economic strength and military
capabilities have more power
d) government: the institution through which a state maintains social order, provides
public services, and enforces decisions that are binding on all residents
3.
No one really knows how or why the first governments were started, but there are theories.
List and describe the four theories.
a) evolutionary theory: the state evolved from the family
●
The head of the primitive family supposedly served as the government authority
●
Extended family could be made up of hundreds of people
●
Gradually, the extended family needed more organization
b) force theory: states were made because of the need to resist an enemy
●
People cooperated to survive
●
A state emerged when everyone in an area was brought under the authority of
one person or group
c) divine right theory: certain people were chosen by a god, or gods, to rule
●
Ancient Egyptians, the Chinese, and the Aztecs believed that their rulers were
descendents of gods or chosen by them
●
Divine right: right to rule came from god alone
d) social contract theory: to create a government, a social contract was made between
the ruler and the ruled
●
Social contract: theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power
needed to maintain order and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens
●
Hobbes believed people surrender their freedom in order to receive order and
security
●
John Locke believed women and men had certain rights to life, liberty, and
property
○
Social contract was made to preserve these natural rights
4.
Two main political theorists/philosophers are Thomas Hobbes and John Locke.
They agreed
that a sort of 'social contract' is established between a government and its citizens.
However,
they disagreed as to terms of this contract.
Write the main tenets of those beliefs below and
briefly state which theory you believe more.
Be sure to explain why you believe one over the
other.
●
Hobbes believed people surrender their freedom in order to receive order and security
●
John Locke believed women and men had certain rights to life, liberty, and property
●
I believe John Locke’s theory more as the 10 Amendments support his tenets.
5.
List and describe the four main purposes of government.
a) maintain social order
●
People need government to maintain order as human groups do not know how to
live in peace
●
Government provides ways of resolving conflicts among people
●
Government creates and enforces laws
●
Government provides structures necessary to help resolve disagreements in an
orderly process
b) provide public services
●
Provide services no one person can provide
●
Provide essential services that make community life possible and promotes the
general welfare
c) provide security and defense
●
Protect people against attack by other states or from threats such as terrorism
●
Government handles day-to-day relations with other nations
●
Provide economic security by signing trade agreements with other countries
d) to provide for the economy
●
Nations vary in their ability to provide their citizens with economic opportunities
and resources
●
No country provides its citizens with everything they need or desire
●
Poverty and scarce resources is a source of conflict in a society or between
countries
●
When there is a big income gap between social groups, civil conflict is likely
●
Governments intervene in domestic crises and the economic affairs of another
nation to promote their own national security
●
Governments pass laws to shape the economic environment
●
They also make choices that distribute benefits and services among citizens
6.
Using the four purposes of government -- choose one of the four purposes that you believe is
our government currently does a great job of protecting.
Then, choose another of the four
purposes that you believe our government has slacked on providing.
Provide real world
examples to support your opinions.
The U.S. government does well in providing public services with the multitude of health
care programs provided such as ObamaCare. Police protection is also readily available and
along with highway construction and maintenance. The U.S. government, however, slacks on
maintaining social order, as there is much conflict within the higher authorities. There is much
political conflict in the U.S. dealing with the the support or lack thereof for our current president
and the reactions of the public to it.
The Formation of Government
1.
Define unitary system
and federal system
of government.
Which system do we have in the
United States?
●
Unitary System: a government that gives all key powers to the national or central
government
●
Federal system: a government that divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial governments
2.
What is the purpose of a constitution
?
Which country has the oldest written constitution in
the world?
3.
Why would it be important for a country to have a written constitution?
What might happen if
the constitution isn't written down?
4.
Which part of the U. S. Constitution is a horrible run-on sentence that explains the goals and
purposes of our government?
Types of Governments
1.
List and define the three major types of governments.
2.
Great Britain is probably the most famous monarchy still in existence.
Do a little internet
research and write down main functions and powers of the current British monarchy.
Do you
believe the British monarchy still serves a purpose, or should it be abolished?
3.
How was the ancient Roman Republic like an oligarchy?
4.
What major type of government do we have in the United States?
5.
In your opinion, which type of government allows for more freedoms of
opinions/expressions?
Why?
6.
briefly write how each describes a characteristic of Democracy:
-Individual Liberty
-Majority Rule with Minority Rights
-Free Elections
-Competing Political Parties
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7.
Has the United States always been accepting of free elections for every citizen?
Research
the internet and describe Constitutional Amendments that have expanded voting rights in the
United States.
8.
briefly write how each describe an element that is essential to Democracies:
-Citizen Participation
-Favorable Economy
-Widespread Education
-Strong Civil Society
-Social Consensus
9.
Looking at the 5 subheadings listed above, choose 2 that are currently in the news that
citizens feel are not being provided/protected.
Provide examples to support your choices.