Formation of Government theories

​Principles of Government

By Kailey Johnson

Open Ended

Bell Ringer:

Is the government necessary? Explain your answer.

- Thomas Hobbes

"Government is necessary, not because man is naturally bad… but because man is by nature more individualistic than social."

• Greek philosopher Aristotle, “man is by nature a political animal.”

• Politics and government are different.

  Politics = processes 

  Government = institution

• Politics is when the society chooses how  power and resources are distributed and decide who will gain benefits or pay the costs. The government cannot exist without politics.

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​​ ​ Politics vs.
Government

​Government and the State

• Government is the institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies. 

• Public policies are all the things a government decides to do such as taxation, defense, education, crime, healthcare, transportation, the environment, civil rights, and much more.

• Governments must have power and authority to command and prevent actions.

• The government is split into three powers: legislative, executive, and judicial.

• The powers are most often defined and outlined in a constitution: the fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of government.

• Powers may be held by a single dictatorship or small group. Or it may be held by a majority of the people which is known as a democracy.

​What makes a state?

• A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce laws without consent of any higher authority.

• There are more than 200 states in the world. 

• Different from nation or country, but often used interchangeably. Nation is an ethnic term referring to the race or other large groups of people. Country is a geographic term to define a particular place, region, or area of land.

​A state must have people, but it does not matter how much. They do not have to be homogeneous (all the same).

​​Population

​A state must have land with recognized boundaries.

​​Territory

A state must be sovereign which means it has supreme and absolute power within its territory to decide foreign and domestic policies.

​​Sovereignty

​a state must be politically organized. An institution through which society makes and enforces its laws.

​​Government

​To make a state follow this recipe:
1 cup population, 2 cups territory, 1/2 cup of sovereignty, and a tablespoon of government.

1. Force

2. Evolutionary

3. Divine Right

4. Social Contract

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​How Did States First Form?

4 theories of government formation

A population formed out of primitive families. The heads of the families became the government. When they settled in a territory and claimed it as their own they became sovereign.

Evolutionary theory

An individual or group claimed control over a territory and forced the population to submit.

​Force theory

Read about each theory

A population in a territory gave up power to a government to promote the well being of all. A voluntary act of all free people. The state only exists to serve the will of people and they are the sole source of its political power. (Thomas Hobbes, “state of nature”).

​Social Contract theory

God created the state, making it sovereign. The government was made up of those chosen by God to rule a certain territory. The people must obey their ruler.

​Divine Right theory

Read about each theory

Match

Match the correct theory with the correct definition

• The belief that monarchs derive their authority from God

• The theory that states evolve from family structures

• The idea that governments are formed through agreements among individuals

• The processes by which power and resources are distributed

• The theory that states are formed through coercion

Divine right theory

Evolutionary theory

Social Contract theory

Politics

Force theory

• Divine right theory

• Evolutionary theory

• Social Contract theory

• Politics

• Force theory

The purpose of government

​The Preamble of the U.S Constitution

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Open Ended

There are 5 things stated in the Preamble that should be provided by the government? What are those 5 things and what do think each one means?

​Justice is defined as the quality of being fair. This means that all people are treated equally under the law. It includes ensuring that everyone has their due process rights and that laws are in place to protect their civil liberties and human rights.

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Establish Justice

​Justice is established by...

• Bill of Rights

• Judicial system and courts

• Checks and balances

• Rule of Law

• Due process
  

​The government is responsible for maintaining peace and order within the country, preventing civil unrest, and resolving conflicts to ensure a stable society. It emphasizes the need for a peaceful environment free from internal strife, rebellions, and significant disorder.

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Insure Domestic Tranquility

​Insuring domestic tranquility by....

• ​Enforcement of laws

• Separation of powers

• Rule of Law

• National security

• Maintaining interstate relations

• Federal authority to settle disputes

​The U.S. federal government is responsible for protecting the nation and its citizens from external threats. This involves maintaining military forces, securing borders, and ensuring national security.​

Provide for the Common Defense

​Providing for the common defense by...

• ​Congressional powers

• Declaring war

• Raising armies

• Providing a navy

• Department of Defense

• President Commander-in-Chief

Promote the General Welfare

​The government provides financial assistance, public safety, infrastructure, and welfare programs to improve the lives and well-being of its citizens.

​Promoting the general welfare by...

• ​Taxing to provide public services

• Social security

• Education

• Healthcare

• Unemployment

• Other financial assistance

• Environmental protection

​Ensures that both current and future generations of Americans can enjoy the benefits of freedom and individual rights. It highlights the importance of individual liberty as a core American value and a fundamental principle of the nation's founding. ​

Secure the Blessings of Liberty

​Secure the blessings of liberty by...

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Match

Match up the government institution or policy that best aligns with an action of the Preamble

• Provide defense

• Promote general welfare

• Insure domestic tranquility

• Establish justice

• Secure the blessings of liberty

Military funding and support

Social security programs

Law enforcement and emergency services

Judicial system and courts

Constitutional rights and freedoms

• Military funding and support

• Social security programs

• Law enforcement and emergency services

• Judicial system and courts

• Constitutional rights and freedoms