1. Purposes of Government
• There are four primary purposes of government.
– Maintaining social order:.
– Providing public services:.
2. – Providing security and defense:
– Providing for the economy:.
Purposes of Government(cont.)
3. Essential Features of a State
• The four essential features of a state include:
– population—the people
– territory—established boundaries
– sovereignty—supreme and absolute authority
within its boundaries
– government—central institution
United States Acquisitions
4. Origins of the State
• Scholars have constructed theories to explain the
origins of state.
• Evolutionary Theory
– The state evolved from the family.
– The head of the primitive family served as
government authority.
5. • Force Theory
– The state was born of force, or the need to
resist an enemy.
– A state emerged when everyone in an area was
brought under the authority of one person or
group.
• Divine Right Theory
– Certain people are chosen by a god or gods to
rule.
Origins of the State(cont.)
6. • Social Contract Theory
– People make an agreement with the state on
how they want to be ruled. Some freedoms
may be lost to guarantee security and well
being.
Origins of the State(cont.)
7. Government Systems
• There are three primary systems of government:
– Unitary system
• Gives key powers to the central government.
– Federal system
• Divides key powers between national and
state government.
8. • The United States began its federal system by
forming a confederacy.
– A confederacy is a loose union of independent
states.
Government Systems(cont.)
10. Reading Strategy
Create a table that highlights the distinguishing
feature of these forms of government: direct
democracy, representative democracy, and republic.
11. Major Types of Government
• According to Aristotle the three major types of
governments are:
• Autocracy:
– One person has all authority.
– A monarchy is another form of government in
which a king, queen or emperor inherits the
throne and heads the state.
Comparing Governments
12. • Oligarchy:
– A small group holds power.
– Oligarchs derive their power from wealth,
social position, military power or a combination
of these.
• Democracy:
– The people govern either directly or through
representatives.
Major Types of Government(cont.)
13. – An assembly of people’s representatives may
be called a council, a legislature, a congress or a
parliament.
– In a republic voters elect representatives.
• Only a small percentage of people might be
empowered to vote.
Major Types of Government(cont.)
14. Characteristics of Democracy
• A true democracy is defined by four
characteristics:
– Individual liberty
• All people are as free as possible to develop
their talents.
– Majority rule with minority rights
• Elected representatives enact laws that
reflect the will of the majority of lawmakers.
15. • The rights of the minority are respected and
protected.
– Free elections
• Everyone’s vote carries the same weight.
• All candidates have the right to express their
views freely.
• Citizens are free to help candidates or
support issues.
Characteristics of Democracy(cont.)
16. • Legal requirements for voting are kept to a
minimum.
• Citizens vote by secret ballot without
coercion or fear of punishment.
– Competing political parties.
• A political party is a group of individuals with
broad common interests organized to win
elections, conduct government and
determine public policy.
Characteristics of Democracy(cont.)
17. • Rival parties make elections meaningful by
giving voters a choice.
Characteristics of Democracy(cont.)
18. Essential Elements for a Democracy
• A successful democracy depends on five essential
elements:
– Citizen Participation
• Citizens must be willing to participate in civic
life.
– Favorable Economy
• The economy must be prosperous and
distribute wealth to many members of
society.
19. • Free enterprise is the freedom of private
business to operate with minimal
government regulation.
– Widespread Education
• A democracy is more likely to succeed in
countries where most people are educated.
Essential Elements for a Democracy(cont.)
20. • Civil society is made up of a network of
voluntary associations—economic, political,
charitable, religious, and many others that
exist outside of government.
Essential Elements for a Democracy(cont.)
– Strong Civil Society
21. – Social Consensus
• A social consensus refers to a country where
most people accept democratic values and
generally agree about the purpose and limits
of government.
Essential Elements for a Democracy(cont.)
