Government
Organization that exercises power
and authority over a group of
people by creating and enforcing
policy.
State
All states must have:
1. Territory
2. Population
3. Government
4. Sovereignty
Population
People who live in a particular
area.
Counted through a CENSUS
offered every 10 years.
Territory
Land defined by its political
borders.
Sovereignty
Complete and total freedom in
which nobody has any power over
you.
Force Theory
A ruler comes along and imposes
his/her will on a population.
Example: Julius Caesar and
Rome
Evolutionary Theory
States form as a result of gradual
adaptations (changes) over time.
Example: Ancient Sumer and Ur
Divine Right Theory
God creates the state and gives
the right to rule to a ruler.
Example: Louis XIV (14) of
France
Social Contract
Theory
Agreement between the
government and the people
1. People - Follow rules
2. Government - Support and
protect the people
Example - USA
Direct Democracy
Citizens equally participate in
creating public policy / laws.
Therefore, everyone is the
government and has power.
Example - Town Hall Meetings,
Ancient Athens, Switzerland
Indirect Democracy
(Republic)
People elect representatives who
create and carry out public policy /
laws.
Example - USA, Germany,
Canada
Oligarchy
Rule of a few / group. All others
are subject to loss of rights /
human rights abuses.
Example - China, Cuba
(Communist nations)
Autocracy
Rule of a single person who is not
bound by any laws. (They are
above the law.)
Example - Saudi Arabia
Constitutional
Monarchy
King / Queen is powerless
because they are limited by a
Constitution that established an
Indirect Democracy.
Example - Great Britain,
Denmark, Sweden, Norway
Theocracy
Rule of a religious figure(s).
Government and religion are
entwined.
Example - Iran
Authoritarianism
System in which the government
takes power and rights away from
the people. No elections.
Example - Thailand
Totalitarianism
Government has total power over
the public and private lives of the
people. Widespread fear,
paranoia, human rights abuses,
examples of strength.
Example - North Korea
Characteristics of
Democracy
1. Individual Liberty
2. Majority Rules with Minority
Rights
3. Free Elections
4. Competing Political Parties
5. A Favorable Economy
6. Widespread Education
7. Active Citizen Participation
8. Social Consensus
9. Strong Civil Society
Form a more perfect
union
Key Words
1. More perfect - Work in
progress
2. Union - People coming
together
Examples (National Holidays)
1. Thanksgiving
2. Independence Day
Establish justice
Key Words
1. Establish - Create
2. Justice - Resolution,
Fairness
Examples
1. Federal Court System
2. State Court System
Ensure domestic
tranquility
Key Words
1. Domestic - at home
2. Tranquility - peace,
stability
Examples
1. Police
2. Fire
3. EMTs / Paramedics
Provide for a
common defense
Key Words
1. Common - applies to
everyone
2. Defense - protection
Example
1. Military Services (Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines,
Coast Guard, Space Force)
Promote the general
welfare
Key Word
1. General - Everyone
2. Welfare - Help
Example
1. Unemployment
2. Medicare / Medicaid
3. Obamacare
4. COVID Vaccines
Secure the blessings
of Liberty
Key Words
1. Secure - Protect
2. Liberty - Freedom
Examples
1. Speech
2. Press
3. Religion
4. Petition
5. Assembly
6. Bear Arms
Limited Government
1. Nobody in government is
“above the law.” They must
follow the laws they create.
2. Nobody in the
government has unlimited
power.
Ordered Government
Government that has a strong
structure / organization that is
accepted by the general public.
Representative
Government
Government that is a reflection of
the population through elections.
Magna Carta
1. Limits the taxing and
spending powers of the king
2. Creates the British
Parliament
3. Not effective until the late
1600s
Petition of Rights
Allows for trials to be determined
by juries (of peers) and not by
royally appointed judges.
English Bill of Rights
Created Parliamentary elections
Shift from Parliament being
answerable to the king to one that
is answerable to the people
Enlightenment
Time period in which Europeans
rethought how governments
should function.
Social Contract
Agreement between the
government and the people.
1. Hobbes - People are bad,
government is good.
2. Rousseau - People are
good, government is bad.
Natural Rights
John Locke believed everyone
had the right to:
1. LIFE
2. LIBERTY
3. PROPERTY
Separation of
Powers
Baron de Montesquieu believed
that power should be split into
three branches:
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
Critical Period
Time between our independence
and the creation of our current
constitution.
Known for its horrible failures in
government. (Articles of
Confederation)
Articles of
Confederation
America’s first constitution that
had a weak central government
and stronger state governments.
1. Could not tax
2. Had no military
3. No courts or executive
branch
4. No national unity
CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION
Meeting held to change the
Articles of Confederation.
Changes resulted in the creation
of a brand new Constitution.
New Jersey Plan
Congress will be unicameral.
Representation will be equal.
- 2 per state
Favored by small states
Virginia Plan
Congress will be bicameral.
Representation will be
proportional to population.
- Unequal by state
Favored by large states
Great Compromise
(Connecticut)
Congress will be bicameral.
1. House of Representatives
a. Proportional
Representation (Population)
b. Reflects the VA Plan
2. Senate
a. Equal Representation (2
per state)
b. Reflects the NJ Plan
3/5 Compromise
Determined for representation in
the House of Representatives
For every 5 “enslaved” individuals,
3 “whole people” will be counted
for:
1. Representation purposes
2. Taxation calculations
Ratification Debate
Question: Should we ratify the
new Constitution?
1. Yes (Federalists)
2. No (Anti-Federalists)
9 WERE REQUIRED
ALL 13 RATIFIED!