United States Government

Unit 1: Foundations of American Government

Chapter 1: People and Government
Section 1: Principles of Government
I.

II.

III.

The State
A. Aristotle- A scholar in ancient Greece, who was one of the first students of
government.
B. Many terms and concepts originated in ancient Greece and Rome.
C. State- identifies a political community that occupies a definite territory
and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce
laws without the approval from any higher authority.
D. 2 Different kinds of states
1. Country State (State of Israel)
2. States within a country.
E. Nation- any sizable group of people who are united by common bonds of
race, language, custom, tradition, and, sometimes religion.
F. Nation-stateEssential Features of a State
A. Population
1. Nature of a states population affects its stability
2. Mobility-Changes representatives in Congress
B. Territory
1. State has established boundaries.
2. Shape and/or boundaries can create conflict.
3. Territories change as a result of war, negotiations, or purchase.
C. Sovereignty
1. Political Sovereignty- state has supreme and absolute authority within
the territorial boundaries.
D. Government
1. Government- the institution through which the state maintains social
order, provides public services, and enforces decision that are binding
on all people living within the state.
Theories of the Origin of the State
A. Evolutionary Theory
1. Evolutionary theory- state evolved from the family. The head of
the family was the authority.
B. Force Theory
1. Government emerged when all the people of an area were brought
under the authority of one person or group.
C. Divine Right Theory
1. Divine Right- the notion that a god or gods have chosen certain
people to rule by divine right
D. Social Contract Theory
1. Thomas Hobbes theorized the social contract.

IV.

2. People have contract with government to surrender their power

needed to maintain order, the state agrees to protect its citizens.
3. People can break contract if government does not protect them.
The Purposes of Government
A. To Maintain Social Order
B. To provide public services
C. To provide for national security and a common defense
D. To provide for and control the economic system.
E. Government can force one to obey and punish those who do not.
F. Legitimacy- willingness of the people to obey
G. Coercive force- derives from the police, judicial and military institutions
of government
H. Maintaining Social Order
1. People need government to maintain social order because they have
not discovered a way to live in groups without conflict.
2. Government resolves conflicts
3. Government can make and enforce laws
4. Government can force one to pay taxes or join the army
5. Provides structure
I. Providing Public Services
1. Protect against attack
2. Relations with other nations
J. Making Economic Decisions
1. Provide their citizens with economic opportunities or resources
2. Pass laws that shape the economic environment of the nation.
3. Laws are limited