Foundations of

Government
Chapter 1 (pgs. 4-29)
THE PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT
Chapter 1, Section 1 (pgs. 6-13)
L1 HW Review Questions!!!
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) authority 2) sovereignty 3) diplomacy 4) politics 5) revolt
Main Idea (5 sentences)
Explain the concept of legitimacy.
Summarize (6 sentences)
In your own words, define government.
In your own words, define: state.
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
In your opinion, what is the most important function of govnt? Explain
your reasoning.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the political philosophers
Hobbes and Locke? In your opinion, is man better or worse in his
natural state?
What is Government?
Government: made up of the formal institutions & processes
through with decisions are made for a group of people
3 parts:
1. People
Elected: have authority
Public servants: such as postman, president, soldiers, judges, legislators,
firemen, police officers, etc.,
2. Powers
1. Legislative: to make laws
2. Executive: to enforce laws
3. Judicial: to interpret laws
3. Policies
Policy: a decision by a government to pursue a goal (such as law,
program or actions)
Examples: taxes, military defense, environmental protection, health care,
transportation
Characteristics of a State
State (or country, or nation-state): a political unit with the
power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living
within a clearly defined territory
Population: a state must have people; population size does not
determine statehood
Territory: a state must have clearly recognized borders
Government: states are politically organized; govnt issue &
enforce laws for their people
Sovereignty: the supreme power to act within its territory & to
control its external affairs
States are independent from other states
Freedom to establish a form of govnt
Constitution limits the power of govnt

Functions of Government
1) Ensure National Security
Guard against external threats: enemy states & terrorists
Effect: states spend lots of money on national defense (armies,
navies, air force)
Ex: U.S. spent $600 billion in 2007 on defense + $35 billion on
diplomacy: embassies, treaty negotiations = good relations with other
nations
2) Maintain Order
Order = safety of people & property
Laws = rules about unacceptable behavior & consequences
Govnt must have means to enforce laws
3) Resolve Conflict
Politics: the process by which govnt makes and carries out
decisions
Groups debate what laws, programs and policies govnt should make.
Functions of Govnt (continued)
4) Provide Services
Examples: building roads, providing parts & recreational facilities,
delivering mail, education, clean water, medical care, public
housing
How?
Citizens pay local, state & national taxes
5) Provide for the Public Good
the general welfare or public good: the needs and interests of
the people as a whole.
Ex: Build a road = good for community BUT can hurt neighborhood
that has to move so road can be built

Theories of Rule
Who gets to rule and why?
Legitimacy: rulers are seen as right and proper by
important (or better yet, the majority) of a nations
population

Divine Right: throughout history, the belief that ruler
is chosen by God has been powerful source of
legitimacy
Ex: China, Egypt, Inca, Japan, Rome, etc.,
Divine Right of Kings: 17
th
century Europe, kings
answerable only to god, not the people.
To question the king is to question god.

The Social Contract
Social contract theory: people agree to submit to the authority
of a state
In return, state provides protection & security.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (1651)
Without govnt or laws we live in a state of nature
Pro: personal freedom; Con: self-interest (or greed) = constant war
Since nature is violent, we agree to form govnt
John Locke (1632-1704)
Natural rights: life, liberty & property
Govnt must protect natural rights; if govnt fails, citizens have the
right to revolt

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT
Chapter 1, Section 2 (pgs. 14-19)
L2 HW Review Questions!!!
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) corrupt 2) elite 3) secular 3) theocratic 4)
Main Idea (5 sentences)
What is the role of a President?
Summarize (6 sentences)
Research a modern example of a constitutional monarchy? What is the
function of the monarch?
Explain the differences between a dictatorship, a totalitarian regime
and an oligarchy?
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
Which is better: direct democracy or representative democracy? Which
is more practical? Explain your reasoning.
Is a parliamentary system more or less democratic than a presidential
system? Explain your reasoning.
Monarchy
Monarchy: govnt headed by one
person, such as a king or a queen,
who exercises supreme authority
Powers are usually unlimited and
unchecked
Modern Examples:
Saudi Arabia: royal family hold
unlimited power
Constitutional Monarchies: kings =
ceremonial heads of state = do not
hold real power
Ex: Spain, Great Britain, Japan,
Denmark
History Truth:
power corrupts, absolute power
corrupts absolutely.


Dictatorship
Dictatorship: a system of rule in which one person, a
dictator, or a small group or people hold unlimited power
Dictators usually take power violently, overthrowing a
legitimate govnt; they maintain power by force
Totalitarianism: seeks to dominate all aspects of society;
govnt, economy,
personal beliefs and actions
Ex: Nazi Germany, Soviet Union,
China under Mao Zedong,
North Korea
Oligarchy: rule by a few
(military or economic elite)
Dictatorships are usually secular:
laws & politics independent
of religion
Sometimes theocratic:
rule by a small group of
religious leaders.
Democracy: rule by the people
Direct Democracy
Based on Greek city-
state Athens
Citizens met in popular
assembly to 1) discuss
issues & 2) elect leaders
In truth, it was elite-
based
Only landowning males
could vote
Only works in small
communities
Representative Democracy
Republic: indirect form of
democracy; people elect
representatives to make
decisions for them

Democracy (in general):
the people are the
ultimate source of govnt
authority
Elections are free & fair
Equal opportunity to
participate
Organizing National Power
Unitary system: sovereignty rests in a
single, national govnt
Ex: United Kingdom, France, Japan
Federal system: power is divided between a
national govnt and regional levels of govnt
Ex: United States, Canada, India, Germany,
Mexico, Nigeria, Brazil
Confederal system: independent states join
forces by forming a central govnt (or
confederation)
Ex: United Arab Emirates, European Union

Presidents & Parliaments
President
Elected by citizens
Limited term
Appoint cabinet
Execute policy
Head of armed forces
Sets foreign policy
Initiates domestic legislation
Checks & Balances
Legislative branch writes laws
President approves laws
If they cannot work together,
nothing gets done


Parliaments
Executive & legislative
branches are combined
Parliament chooses Prime
Minister (leader of
majority parity)
If Prime Minister loses
support of party he/she
must resign, as well as
Cabinet
Pro: laws easier to write
Con: leader not elected
AGENDA:

1) DESIGN: YOUR GOVERNMENT
2) DEBATE: GOVNT PROS/CONS
3) GOVNT QUIZ
4) LESSON 3 (IF WE HAVE TIME)
4) REMINDER: CHAPTER 1 TEST ON
WEDNESDAY
Design a Govnt: Instructions
You and your partner have been assigned
leadership positions of a newly
independent island nation.
Your task:
1. You only have the resources (for now) to
set up 2 out of the 3 branches of govnt.
Explain the reasoning behind your choices
1. Prioritize three policies to guide your government over the next
year. Which issues will be most important to you? Explain why.
2. Prioritize two functions your government will focus on over the
next year. Explain why.
3. Design a constitution.
Will your country be a unitary, federal or confederal system? Why?
Will your country have a Presidential or Parliamentary system? Why?

Debate a Government
1) Groups of 3
2) You will be assigned a government system: a) constitutional
monarchy, b) dictatorship, c) representative democracy
3) Make a list of pros & cons
a) Prepare arguments and counter-arguments
4) Present your argument & counter-arguments
a) Each group has 2 minutes to present arguments.
b) Each group has 2 minutes to present counter-arguments.
c) Each group has 2 minutes to present final thoughts
5) Mr. Igor chooses the winner based on a fair, impartial
system of deduction and logic
d) Winners earn a Merit Card for the day.
DEMOCRACY IN THE UNITED STATES
Chapter 1, Section 3 (pgs. 20-27)
L3 HW Review Questions!!!
Identify & Example (2 sentences)
1) restrict 2) authority 3) consent
Main Idea (5 sentences)
What is tyranny of the majority?
Summarize (6 sentences)
The Ideals of American Democracy (Extra Credit Option)
The Principles of American Democracy (Extra Credit Option)
Critical Thinking (5-7 sentences)
In what ways does a Constitution limit the powers of government?
If you could add two more ideals to a democracy, what would they
be? Why?
Ideals of American Democracy
Ideal: a conception of something in its perfect form
1) Liberty: the ability to act and think as you choose (without doing
harm to others)
1
st
Amendment: Congress hall make no law that restricts 1) free
speech 2) right to assembly 3) freedom of religion 4) free press 5)
right to petition
2) Equality: fair treatment under the law; equal opportunity in life
Thomas Jefferson: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that
all men are created equal
All men = African Americans? Women?
3) Self-government: people = ultimate source of authority
Declaration of Independence: Governments are instituted among
Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed
the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new Government.

Principles of American Democracy
1) Worth of the Individual
The pursuit of happiness = high value on individual freedom,
personal responsibility, self-reliance & individual achievement
2) Rule of Law
John Adams: a government of laws, not of men.
3) Majority & Minority Rights
Decisions made by majority rule (+50%)
BUT!!! You must protect minority rights (-50%) from tyranny of the
majority
Liberal democracy: all groups protected; freedom of speech
guaranteed to all; balance by debate, politics & elections
Principles (continued)
4) Compromise
The ability to find common ground, come to agreement
Sometimes you have to give something up to get something
5) Citizen Participation
Self-government requires citizen participation
Citizens are expected to be informed = effective participation
Ex: jury duty, debate, write legislators & politicians, volunteer, pay
taxes, join political parties, peaceful protest
6) Free Enterprise
Free enterprise = economic freedom: allows people/businesses
to produce, distribute & exchange goods & services without
govnt interference
Constitutional Government
Constitution: plan that details structures & powers of govnt
Sets procedures for how to make, enforce & interpret law
Specify how constitution can be amended, or changed
Constitutional govnt = limited govnt
Constitution = higher law
U.S. Bill of Rights = basic rights of citizens (free speech, religion,
etc.,)
Govnt must protect citizen rights
Limits govnt power
It can only be changed with citizen consent