1. The document discusses principles of government, including theories about the origin of states and governments. It identifies four main purposes of government: maintaining social order, providing public services, providing national security, and establishing and regulating economic systems. 2. Theories about the origin of states include the divine right theory, which holds that rulers are chosen by gods, and the social contract theory, which says that people give power to governments in exchange for order and protection of rights. 3. While Hobbes and Locke both believed in the social contract theory, Locke added that people have the right to break the contract if a government fails to preserve peoples' rights.

1. Principles of Government
Key Terms
state, nation, nation-state, consensus, sovereignty,
government, social contract
Find Out
• How do various theories explain the origin of
government?
• What are the four main purposes of government?

2. Principles of Government
Understanding Concepts
Public Policy Which policies of the government
make your life better? Which do you think make
life worse?
Section Objective
Identify the essential features of a state and describe
the theories about the origin of government.

3. In the last 50 years the number of
countries in the world has more than
doubled. In 2000, there were 196
independent countries, each with its own
people and government.

4. A. Population, the most obvious essential
feature of a state.
I. Essential Features of a State (pages 6–8)
B. An area with fixed boundaries.
C. Sovereignty, or absolute authority, within its
territorial boundaries.
D. A government which maintains order,
provides public services, and enforces
decisions that its people must obey.

5. I. Essential Features of a State (pages 6–8)

6. U.S. citizens sometimes complain about
government, claiming it has too much
power and control over their lives. Why
do you think they feel this way?
People usually complain about government
when it affects them directly.
I. Essential Features of a State (pages 6–8)

7. A. The state evolved from the family group.
II. Theories of the Origin of the State (page 8)
B. One person or a group used force to
establish its authority to govern the people.
C. The rulers of the people were chosen by the
gods to govern.
D. The people gave the government its power to
rule them, and in return the government had
to respect the people’s rights.

8. During World War II the government imposed
hardships, such as the rationing of gasoline
and food, on the U.S. population. Are such
measures justifiable? Why or why not?
When national security is threatened, strong
measures are needed.
II. Theories of the Origin of the State (page 8)

9. A. Governments are needed to maintain social
order by making and enforcing laws.
III. The Purpose of Government (pages 9–11)
B. Governments provide essential services for
people, such as promoting public health
and safety.
C. Governments protect people from attack by
other states and from internal threats such
as terrorism.
D. Governments pass laws that shape and
control the nation’s economy in various ways.

10. Do you think the government has too much
or too little control over the economy of the
United States?
Answers will vary. Students should support
their opinions with examples.
III. The Purpose of Government (pages 9–11)

11. 1. Main Idea In a graphic organizer similar to the
one below, identify four major purposes of
government and give an example of each.
Checking for Understanding
Answers might include: maintain social
order—police and courts; provide public
services—highways and firefighters; provide
national security—army and navy; establish
and regulate an economic system—banks
and currency.

12. ___ nation-state
___ consensus
___ social contract
___ sovereignty
___ nation
A. 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
B. an agreement about basic beliefs
C. the supreme and absolute
authority within territorial
boundaries
D. a country in which the territory of
both the nation and state coincide
E. group of people united by bonds
of race, language, custom,
tradition, and, sometimes, religion
Checking for Understanding
D
B
A
C
E
Match the term with the correct definition.

13. 3. Identify Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke.
Checking for Understanding
Aristotle, a scholar in ancient Greece, was one
of the first students of government. He studied
the polis, the ancient Greek city-state.
Thomas Hobbes was one of the first to
theorize on the social contract.
John Locke wrote that people were naturally
endowed with the right to life, liberty, and
property. Locke believed that people had the
right to break the contract when the
government failed to preserve the rights of
the people.

14. 4. Summarize the divine right and social
contract theories.
Checking for Understanding
The divine right theory holds that the state comes
from a god and that rulers are descended from or
chosen by a god. The social contract theory says
people give power to the state so the state may
preserve order and rights.

15. 5. Making Comparisons Thomas Hobbes and
John Locke both subscribed to the social
contract theory of government. Analyze their
views of that theory.
Critical Thinking
Both believed that people surrendered to the
state the power needed to maintain order, but
Locke believed that people had the right to
break that contract when government failed to
preserve the rights of the people. Hobbes did
not believe they had that right.