Government Origin

Purposes and Origins of

Government

Section 1

❏Anarchy

❏Country

❏Divine Right

❏Government

❏Nation

❏Social Contract

❏Sovereignty

❏State

Vocabulary Terms

Purposes and Origins of Government

Date: 08/15/23 -

08/18/23

❏Bellringer

❏Presentations

❏Activity 1 and Activity 2

Bellringer

Do you think that governments
are essential to society? Why or

why not?

Essential Question

What are the purposes of

government?

Agenda

The Functions of Government

➔

The Greek Philosopher Aristotle one of the first students
of government
◆

A lot of terms like politics, democracy, and republic have
Greek roots

➔

Government: an institution through which leaders
exercise power to make and enforce laws affecting the
people under its control
◆

Without a government, a state would quickly fall into anarchy

➔

Purposes of Legitimate and Functioning Governments:
◆

Create and maintain order

◆

Protect the people by providing leadership

◆

Providing ways to settle disagreements fairly and peacefully

The Functions of Government (Continued)

➔

To Provide Leadership
◆

Government officials set priorities and make decisions on
behalf of the people

●Leaders can be elected by the people or appointed

◆

These officials create rules that the people must follow

◆

If the people do not follow the rules, government officials
have the authority to punish offenders

Elizabeth II

Queen of England

1952 - Present

The Functions of Government (Continued)

➔To Maintain Order
◆

Society has always dealt with disagreements among the
people

◆

Government officials must maintain order by containing
conflict by placing limits on what individuals are allowed to
do

◆

Domestic security forces (like the police or national guard)
help the government maintain order

Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

2015 - Present

The Functions of Government (Continued)

➔

To Provide Public Services
◆

The government is responsible for creating schools,
maintaining roads and public transportation, promoting
public health, etc.

◆

The government provides services that individuals cannot or
would not provide on their own

●Usually, these services benefit the general population
rather than just specific individuals

●Examples - Creating schools, enforcing health codes,
issuing a license to drive, etc

Naruhito

Emperor of Japan

2019 - Present

The Functions of Government (Continued)

➔

To Provide National Security
◆

The government is responsible for protecting the people
from attacks from other countries or terrorist groups

◆

Federal government carries most of the responsibility

Joe Biden

President of the United States

2021 - Present

The Functions of Government (Continued)

➔

To Provide Economic Security
◆

Governments set policies to protect the economy

◆

Most governments try to stimulate economic growth through
trade and regulating the use of natural resources

◆

In times of economic recession, it is the government’s
responsibility to provide assistance to those in need

●All countries face the problem of scarcity, meaning
that some people lack enough food, clothing, or
adequate housing

Xi Jinping

General Secretary of the

Communist Party of China

2012 - Present

What do governments

provide for their citizens?

Nation, State, and Country

➔

Nation
◆

A large group of people who are united by common bonds

◆

Not contained to a geographic territory

➔

Country and State
◆

Have the same meaning

◆

A political community with defined geographic barriers and
an organized government with the power to make and
enforce laws without approval from outside authority

Features of a State

➔

Population
◆

A state has to have people

◆

These people have unique cultures, histories, traditions, and
values.

➔

Territory
◆

A state has an established set of physical boundaries.

◆

These boundaries can change as a result of war, negotiations,
or land sales.

Features of a State (Continued)

➔

Sovereignty
◆

The state has absolute authority within its boundaries.

◆

In theory, no state has the right to interfere with the internal
affairs of another state.

➔

Government
◆

A state has to have a leader.

◆

That leader is in charge of the government that provides
leadership, maintains order, provides public services, and
offers national and economic security

Pope Francis

Sovereign of Vatican City

2013 - Present

What are some of the
differences between a

nation or a

state/country?

Watch this video and answer the following question

in your Guided Notes Packet:

1.What is a stateless nation?

Origins of the State

➔

No one knows exactly why or how governments were
created, but scholars have come up with four theories

➔

Those theories include:
◆

Evolutionary Theory

◆

Force Theory

◆

Divine Right Theory

◆

Social Contract Theory

Evolutionary Theory

➔

State evolved from the traditional family
◆

Heads of ancient families had authority over extended family
members

◆

Supporters believe that government was created because of
the need for organization where extended families were
involved

➔

Examples:
◆

According to Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religious beliefs,
Abraham was the patriarch who was the “father to many
nations,” meaning that he had authority over many branches
of his extended family.

◆

Some Native American tribes still allow family and clan
traditions to govern their groups.

Force Theory

➔State was created because it was impossible to survive without
organization
◆Someone needed to be in charge

➔Supporters
◆Believe that a state would emerge when everyone in the area
was under the authority of one person or group

◆Usually through the use of force (or violence)

➔Examples:
◆To keep out enemies, walls could be built around a city

◆After the walls were built, the strongest leader would take
control

◆Usually, power is gained through violence or the threats of
violence

Divine Right Theory

➔

Rulers are chosen by a god or gods

➔

One of the oldest theories about the origins of the state

➔

Examples:
◆

Many civilizations, such as the Egyptians, the Maya, and the
Aztec believed that their leaders were descendants of gods
or chosen by the gods to rule

◆

Typically associated with the European monarchs from the
1600’s

●Did as they pleased

●Said that “God alone had proclaimed their right to
rule”

●To defy the monarchy was to defy God

Social Contract Theory

➔

This theory is based on the beliefs of Thomas Hobbes
◆

Believed that the state existed to protect and serve the
people.

➔

Social contract
◆

People should give up their freedom

◆

In return, the state would provide order and protection

Thomas Hobbes

What are the major theories
about the origins of the state?

Which do you find most

convincing and why?

Today’s Activities

❏

Activity #1: Research Lincoln’s role as president of the
US during the Civil War. Evaluate in writing whether
Lincoln’s idea about the purpose of government was
reflected in his actions. Write at least three complete
sentences to support your answer.

❏

Activity #2: Read the article linked in your Guided Notes
Packet. Then write a letter to the editor of a Scottish
newspaper arguing for or against Scottish independence.
Write at least four complete sentences to support your
answer.

❏

Answer all of the questions in your Guided Notes Packet.