The document discusses the key features and origins of states and governments. It outlines four essential features of a state: population, territory, sovereignty, and government. It then describes four theories for the origin of states: evolutionary theory, force theory, divine right theory, and social contract theory. The social contract theory, proposed by philosophers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, suggests that people form governments and surrender some freedoms in exchange for protection of their basic rights from others.

1. Principles of
Government
Ch.1, sec. 1

2. The State
Aristotle- Greek scholar- one of the first to study
government
Politics
Democracy
Republic
Thanks ancient Greece and Rome!

3. The Nation-State
State- political community that occupies a definite
territory and has organized government with the
power to make and enforce laws without approval
form any higher authority. (Different meaning in U.S.)
Nation- group of people united in common bonds of
race, language, custom, tradition, and sometimes
religion.
Often called a nation-state
basically the same as a country.
Close to 200 countries in the world today.

4. Gator Nation?

5. Essential Features of a
State
Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government

6. Population
The people of a state
Consensus
(agreement) about
social and political
beliefs = stable
government
Ex: most Americans
value democracy =
U.S. has a fairly stable
government

7. Population
Mobility = shifts in power
States with more people get more power.
Top 3 states with the most representatives
in the House:
1. California
2. Texas
3. New York

8. Territory
Established boundaries
Often a source of conflict in some
countries
Boundaries may change due to war,
negotiations or purchase.
U.S. has expanded its boundaries
numerous times (from 13 states to 50!)

9. Territory

10. Sovereignty
The state has supreme and
absolute authority within its
boundaries.
In theory, no state has the right
to interfere with the internal
affairs of another state.
In reality, states with more
money and larger militaries
have more power than states
who have less.
Is this fair?

11. Government
Every state has
some form of
government.
Used to maintain
social order, provide
public services, and
enforce decisions
that bind all people
within the state.

12. Theories of the Origin of
the State
How did
government
come to be?
Why did
people create
government?

13. Evolutionary Theory
State evolved from the
family
Head of the family served
as government authority
Large extended families
lived together and
followed/obeyed one
patriarch or father figure of
the family.
Ex: Abraham and his
descendents in The Old
Testament of The Bible.

14. Force Theory
Government emerged
when all the people over
an area were forced
under the rule of one
person or group.
People had to band
together to protect their
cities from invasions.

15. Divine Right Theory
A god or gods chose certain
people to rule by divine right
The Egyptians, Chinese, and
Aztec all believed their rulers
were chosen by the gods.
European kings and queens
also claimed to be chosen by
God (because they were born
into royalty.)
To question their authority
meant you were questioning
God!

16. Social Contract Theory
Challenges divine right
theory
Thomas Hobbes
In a state of nature, no
government exists
Without govt to protect
people from each other
life would be “nasty,
brutish, and short.”
People surrender power
in exchange for
protection.
People do not have the
right to break this

17. Social Contract Theory
John Locke
People naturally
endowed to the rights of
life, liberty, and property
People gave up power to
preserve their rights
If the govt failed to
preserve their rights, the
people had the right to
break the social contract.
When the U.S. declared
its independence, it cited
John Locke’s
philosophies.

18. Split up into groups of four. You may have less, but no
more than four.
1. List the 4 essential features of a state.
2. List the 4 theories of the Origin of the state.
3. Discuss each origin theory and decide which one your
group agrees with most. Explain why you picked that
theory.
4. Are humans born with certain rights? List some rights
you think all humans are born with.
5. If you were stuck on an island with the people in your
group, how would you ensure that each person’s rights
were protected?
6. Would one person be in charge (who and why?) or
would you all share equal power?
7. How would resources (food, shelter, water) be divided
on the island? Would the person who does the most work
get the most food, or would you all share the food equally?