Origins of Government

Purposes of Government

(1) To maintain social order (2) To provide public services (3) To provide for national security and a common defense (4)To provide for and control the economic system

Constitution

A plan that provides the rules for government;provides several major purposes: (1) Sets out ideals that the people bound by the constitution believe in and share (2) establishes the basic structure of government and define's the governments powers and duties (3) provides the supreme the for the country

State

A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority

Bicameral System

A political system in which the legislature comprises two houses.

Republic

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Preamble

A statement in the constitution that sets forth the goals and purposes to be served by government

What is the most prevalent theme in the Declaration of Independence?

complaints of the wrongs done to the colonists

Which basic concept of government did the Magna Carta reflect?

limited government

Which of the following is among the characteristics of a state

population, government, territory

The individual 50 States lack which basic characteristic of a state

sovereignty

The dominant political unit in the world today is the

state

What is the purpose of the following quote, taken from the last paragraph of the DOI "and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved"

to declare's American sovereignty

What was an achievement of the Second Constitutional Convention?

Raising an American army, or "Continental Army"

Force Theory

Says that government emerged when all of the people of an area were brought under the authority of one person or group

Democracy

System of government in which rule is by the people

Unitary System

System of government where the local and regional governments derive all authority from a strong national government

Natural Rights

The idea that all humans were born with the rights to Life, Liberty, and Property

Divine Right Theory

The notion that the gods have chosen certain people to rule by divine right

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

How does the Preamble to the Constitution illustrate the core responsibility of government?

The preamble and constitution explain that the governments sole purpose is to protect the peoples individual rights.

Describe the State of Nature and the Social Contract Theory that society enters in order to leave the State of Nature.

The state of nature is where everyone is free and no one is ruled by a government. The social contract theory is when the people give up some freedoms to be ruled by a government.

Evolutionary theory

The theory that state evolved from the basis of family

John Locke

Famous theorist who took a different approach on the social contract; believed that humans were good by nature and the government exists to protect our natural rights. He said that every person had the right to life, liberty, and property; Believed Government could be overthrown if they failed to protect these rights.

Thomas Hobbes

Famous theorist who was one of the first to theorize how the social contract came about; believed that humans were evil by nature and government exists to protects us from each other; believed that we do not have the right to overthrow government (or break the contract)

Of the 8 systems of government used in the debate activity, which one would work best in America during a time of war? Which one would work best in America during a time of peace?

Out of the 8 systems of government the most sufficient during a time of war would be an Autocracy. I think this because during a war we would need to make quick decisions and there is no way we would all be able to have a say and do it in a timely fashion. The leader would be able to make fast decisions that would benefit our country. In a state of peace I think that a federal government would be best. I think this because we would all have a say and everyones opinion would count. The powers of the government would be divided between a central government. There isn't one main power and everyone has a say.

True or false

a county or city is considered sovereign because it is subordinate to a larger form of government

Match Jefferson's views on the Social Contract with his quotes from the Declaration: 1. God gave us absolute freedoms 2. Leadership of the state shall be comprised of the people within that state 3. Locke's idea on overthrowing an unjust government 4. Government should only fall if the people can list legitimate grievances against it

1."that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" 2. "Governments are instituted among Men" 3."That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government" 4. "Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes"

Federal Government

A government that divides its powers between the national, state, or provincial governments

Popular Sovereignty

Basic principle of the american system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed

Oligarchy

Any system of government in which a small group holds power

autocracy

Any system of government in which the power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual

There are four theories on the origin of government: Force Theory, Evolutionary Theory, Divine Right Theory and Social Contract Theory. Read about these theories on pg. 7-8. Rank these four theories in order from most plausible (1) to least plausible (4) and provide a rationale for the ranking that you assigned.

I think the most important theory is the Evoltionary theory. I think this because the idea of a state couldn't have just popped into someones head one day, it had to evolve over time. It started small and got bigger and bigger. Then people thought of new laws and had new ideas that eventually turned the tribe into a state. I think the second most important theory is the social contract theory. I think this because the social contract implies that people give up their sovereignty to a government to keep peace. People gave up their sovereignty and created a government, which led to the idea of a state, so that everything would be peaceful and everyone would be happy. I think the third most significant theory is the Force theory. I dont think this theory is very significant because I don't understand how all of the elements of a state can just be present. Doesn't someone have to think of them? I think the least significant theory is the divine right theory. I think this because not everyone believes in god and if you didn't where would you go?

Parliament first limited the power of the Crown under the...

Petition of Right

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.