Government Notes
Government- formal institutions and processes through which building decisions are made for a society. Decisions AKA Public Policy.
Institutions in a federal government- Congress, President, Judiciary
4 Criteria for a Country
1. government
2. population
3. Land
4. Sovereignty- complete control over international affairs
In the modern world, nation-states exist.
4 Theories on Origin of the state
1. Force-Theory- biggest and strongest will force others to submit to their will.
2. Evolutionary Theory- survival of the fittest. Family>clan>tribe>nation-state
3. Divine Right Theory- state was created by God and Gad gave those of royal birth the divine right to rule.
4. Social Contract Theory- Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. State arises out of the act of free people. The people are the sole source of political power (popular sovereignty) When the government break the contract, the people have the right to dissolve government.
Classification of Government
-all governments have power
-most of countries have a unitary form of government. USA does not.
-all of power located in Central Government
*Geographical (location, space) Distribution of Power
*Unitary Form of Government
By Geographical Distribution of Power
Central Gov’t Central Gov’t
Has more power has least power
Unitary Form of Gov’t Federal Form of Gov’t Confederate form of Gov’t
Central gov’t has all or local state has all or most power
Most power
Unitary Government is not the same as a Dictatorship
Congress has power to tax, declare war, maintain army, print money, postal roads, etc.
Money constitutes power
10th amendment provides for a framework for Congress
-If a power is not given specifically to central gov’t and not denied to a state gov’t, then that power automatically belongs to state gov’t.
(People) Popular Sovereignty Constitution