The document defines key features of a state and discusses the elements required for an entity to be considered a state. The four main elements are a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity to engage with other states. It also discusses the roles and responsibilities of governments, including keeping order, protecting the country, providing services, and making economic decisions. States like Connecticut and Georgia meet the criteria to be considered states, while being part of the larger United States federal system.

1. The state? You mean like Alabama, Texas, Ohio, etc.? No, no. I mean something bigger than that…

2. OH! Cool…

3. The State a body of people , with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority, living in a defined space , and with an organization to do this.

4. The State You can tell from the definition that there are four key features of a state… What are they?

5. Population a body of people , Territory Sovereignty Government living in a defined space, with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority, and with an organization to do this.

6. STATE ELEMENTS WHAT DOES A STATE REQUIRE? 1. Permanent Population 2. Defined Territory 3. Effective Government 4. Capacity to Enter into Relations with Other States

7. Population That’s us! Definition : People who are the members or citizens of a state The size of the population doesn’t matter Population has a big influence on the type of government chosen by the state: Is the population rural or urban? What do people do for jobs? Do people get along or disagree on basic issues?

8. Territory A state must have set boundaries, but they are not always agreed on. Boundaries can change in three ways: war – people win or lose territory negotiation – people agree to trade territory purchase – states can buy territory from other states Definition : the area in which a state’s rule applies

9. WAIT! Where did the word “SOVEREIGNTY” come from? Sovereignty

10. Sovereignty Don’t worry guys! “ Sovereignty” is just a big word that means a state has the ability to rule within its border as it chooses… Remember the definition of “state”? It says, “…with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority…”?

11. Sovereignty That’s SOVEREIGNTY ! Oh! Ok, cool…

12. Sovereignty Because of sovereignty… states can set their own foreign policy and agendas. states are all equal in theory, but in reality that isn’t always the case. Definition : the ability to rule absolutely within a given territory

13. GOVERNMENTS WHAT IS A GOVERNMENT? Note third element of state is a government in effective control Tendency is to define government not in terms of centralized public authority, but rather to focus on effective control

14. Government That’s us! Definition: the organization that makes and enforces the laws Government has many roles that all involve making public policy , but there are four main ways their governing affects the public… Public policy is the laws and rules that affect the public!

15. Government According to Eric Hobsbawm – Any government rest on three presumptions : first, that they have more power than other units operating on their territory; second, that inhabitants of their territories accept their authority more or less willingly; and third ; that government can provide services for them which could not be provided equally effectively or at all, such as, in the proverbial phrase, ‘law and order’.

16. Government That’s us! Government has many roles that all involve making public policy , but there are four main ways their governing affects the public… Keeping Order Protecting the Country Providing Services Making Economic Decisions Definition: the organization that makes and enforces the laws

17. Keeping Order Making and enforcing laws is all a part of keeping order in society Structures like the police force and court system are in place to enforce the laws and settle disputes Roles of Government

18. Protecting the Country The government is responsible for defending the territory of the state Security organizations like the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense are established to protect citizens Roles of Government

19. Protecting the Country The government is responsible for defending the territory of the state Security organizations like the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense are established to protect citizens Treaties and alliances are formed with other countries to help keep our citizens safe Roles of Government

20. Providing Services The government is responsible for providing basic services… Postal Service Libraries Garbage Collection Road Repair Bridge Building Schools Roles of Government

21. Providing Services The government is responsible for providing basic services… Programs for people who need help: Programs to keep people safe: welfare medical services help buying food food buildings medicine Roles of Government

22. Making Economic Decisions The government makes decisions every day about how it spends money The government also makes decisions about how our economy is going to function Most public policy set by the government has to do with how money is spent!! Roles of Government

23. So by that definition of state… … the United States is just one big state!

24. Figure It Out! Is the United States just one big state? Does it have a population? YES NO Does it have a territory? Does it have sovereignty? Does it have government? YES YES YES NO NO NO

25. Figure It Out! What about “states” like Connecticut or Georgia? Are they states? Do they have a population? YES NO Do they have a territory? Do they have sovereignty? Do they have government? YES YES YES NO NO NO

26. They can’t make laws that go against the U.S. Constitution… They have a higher authority above them!

27. Figure It Out! Oops! I forgot. What four things does the government do? Keeps _________ ORDER Protects the __________ Provides ___________ Makes___________ decisions COUNTRY SERVICES ECONOMIC

28. Let’s take a mini-quiz, kiddos, and see what you learned!

29. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN If there are less than 30,000 people it can’t be considered a state.

30. Monaco has only 27,000 people! Size doesn’t matter! THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN

31. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN The boundaries of a territory can change.

32. Can you name the three ways that boundaries change? THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN

33. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN Sovereignty means that you have to check with someone above you.

34. Just the opposite! Sovereignty means there is NO ONE above you! THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN

35. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN Government only exists to keep order and provide security.

36. What are the four roles that governments have? THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN

37. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN The 50 states that make up the USA are not considered independent states internationally.

38. That’s right! They don’t have full sovereignty! THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN

39. Great job, kiddos! Thanks for all your help!