Understanding Government: Foundations, Systems, and Principles
Government: Foundations and Processes
Government refers to the formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people. It encompasses the structures, rules, and procedures that govern a society.
Power: Authority and Influence
Power represents the authority and ability to get things done. It is the capacity to influence others and shape outcomes.
Policy: Government Decisions
Policy refers to any decision made by the government to pursue a specific goal. It involves the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of plans to address societal issues.
State: Political Unit and Territory
A state is a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory. It possesses sovereignty, meaning it has the ultimate authority within its borders.
Politics: The Process of Governance
Politics encompasses the process by which government makes and carries out decisions. It involves the competition for power, the negotiation of interests, and the formulation of policies.
Legitimacy: Justified Authority
A government that carries out laws responsibly, fairly, and in the best interests of the people is considered legitimate. Legitimacy is based on the acceptance and consent of the governed.
Theories of Government Formation
Divine Right of Kings Theory:
This theory posits that states were founded by a god, and the ruler has a divine right to lead. It justifies absolute monarchy based on religious authority.
Social Contract Theory:
This theory suggests that states are formed through a contract where people surrender some power to an authority in exchange for security and protection. It emphasizes the consent of the governed and the importance of individual rights.
Forms of Government
Types of Government Based on Power Distribution
Monarchy:
A government ruled by a king or queen, often with hereditary succession. The monarch may have absolute or limited power.
Dictatorship:
A government controlled by one person, often through force or intimidation. The dictator holds absolute sovereignty and suppresses dissent.
Oligarchy:
A government ruled by a small group of people, typically the military or economic elite. Power is concentrated in the hands of a few, often excluding the majority.
Direct Democracy:
A government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly. It allows for direct participation in decision-making.
Republic:
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws. It emphasizes representative democracy and the rule of law.
Types of Government Based on Power Structure
Unitary System:
A system of government in which all power is invested in a central government. Regional governments derive their authority from the central government.
Federal System:
A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state governments. Both levels have independent authority and responsibilities.
Confederal System:
A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having sovereign powers. The central government has limited powers over the states.
Types of Government Based on Executive-Legislative Relations
Presidential System:
A form of government headed by a president who is elected by the people for a limited term. The president’s powers are balanced by an elected legislature.
Parliamentary System:
A government in which members of the executive branch are also members of the legislative branch. The executive is subject to the legislature’s direct control.
Key Concepts in Government
Legislative Branch
Bicameral:
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses. This structure allows for different perspectives and checks and balances.
Historical Documents and Influences
Magna Carta (1215):
One of the earliest English efforts toward limited government. It established limits on the king’s power and protected certain rights of the nobility.
Petition of Right (1628):
Signed by King Charles I, it affirmed certain rights, including no imprisonment without due cause, no taxes without Parliament’s consent, and no quartering of soldiers in private homes.
English Bill of Rights (1689):
This document further limited the power of the monarchy, granting Parliament freedom of speech and protecting individuals from cruel punishment.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639):
The first constitution of colonial America, it established limits on government and gave people the right to choose judges.
Colonial America
Proprietary Colony:
A colony granted by England to a proprietor or group of people who funded its establishment.
Royal Colony:
A colony ruled by a governor appointed by the king or queen.
Charter Colony:
A colony established by settlers who had been granted a formal document allowing them to settle.
Early American Government
New England Confederation (1643):
An alliance formed by New England colonists for defense against Native American tribes and Dutch encroachment. It was established without the English crown’s authorization.
Iroquois Confederation:
A league of Native American tribes in the Northeast that fought with the English in the French and Indian War and supported the Loyalists in the American Revolution.
Albany Plan of Union (1754):
Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, this plan aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes. It was rejected by both the colonies and the Crown.
Road to Revolution
The Stamp Act (1765):
The British government’s first tax on the colonies, it imposed a tax on paper goods and legal documents. It sparked widespread protests and resistance.
First Continental Congress (1774):
Convened to protest the Intolerable Acts, the congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, boycotted British imports, and sent a petition to King George III. Georgia did not send a delegate.
Second Continental Congress (1775-1789):
Organized the Continental Army, selected George Washington as commander-in-chief, and ultimately declared the colonies independent from England.
Declaration of Independence
Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776):
A declaration of citizens’ rights issued by the Virginia Convention. It influenced the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Key Terms
Impel:
To force or drive forward.
Usurpations:
Wrongful uses of authority.
Evinces:
Reveals or shows.
Despotism:
A system of government where the ruler has unlimited power.
Tyranny:
Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
Candid:
Completely honest and straightforward.
The Formation of the United States Constitution
Articles of Confederation (1781-1789):
The first governing document of the United States, it created a weak central government. It faced challenges with trade, including different currencies in each state and tariffs on goods traded between states.
Shays’s Rebellion (1786-1787):
A rebellion by Massachusetts farmers who faced the prospect of losing their land. It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.
Constitutional Convention (1787)
Virginia Plan:
Also known as the Big State Plan, it proposed proportional representation in Congress based on population.
New Jersey Plan:
A proposal that would have given each state one vote in a unicameral Congress.
Great Compromise:
Combined elements from the New Jersey and Virginia Plans. It established a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and a Senate (equal representation for each state).
Three-Fifths Compromise:
A compromise that counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation.
Ratification Debates
Federalists:
Supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Antifederalists:
Opponents of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures. They argued for a stronger Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.
Bill of Rights (1791):
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
Key Principles of American Government
Popular Sovereignty:
The concept that government power is derived from the people. Ultimate political power remains with the people.
Limited Government:
Government powers are restricted to protect individual rights. The Constitution establishes limits on government authority.
Rule of Law:
The concept that every member of society, including the ruler or government, must obey the law and is never above it.
Separation of Powers:
The power to govern is divided among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent the concentration and abuse of power by any one branch.
Checks and Balances:
Each branch of government has the power to check or restrain some powers of the other two branches. This system ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful.
Judicial Review:
The judicial branch has the power to strike down laws and other government actions as invalid or unconstitutional. This power ensures that laws are consistent with the Constitution.
Unconstitutional:
Any law or action that is found to violate a part of the Constitution.