Download State

Chapter I
People and Government
Section –I
Principles of Government
• How many countries are there in the world
today?
• The answer…
• About 200 is probably the best current
answer to the question.
Why is there not an exact number?
• There are dozens of territories and
colonies that are sometimes erroneously
called "countries" but are not.
– Bermuda
– Puerto Rico
– Northern Ireland
– Scotland
They're not fully independent countries
• State?
• Country?
• Nation?
State vs. Country?
• State and country generally have the
same meaning
– Political community
– Definite boundaries
– Sovereignty – freedom to make rules and
laws without getting approval from another
– Independent government
So, are PA and NY countries?
• Not exactly
• Political divisions in the United States are
called states because:
– When the colonies banded together to fight
the British, they thought of themselves as
independent countries.
If State = Country, What about the
term Nation?
• Nation- a group of people united by culture
• These groups of people do not have to
have a definite boundary or independent
government
– Example: French Canadians, Nation of Islam,
Aryan Nation
• However, the terms State, Nation and
Country are often used interchangeably
The Nation-State
Four Essential Features of
The State (Country)
• Population
– The people must agree or share a consensus about the
basic beliefs in the state
• Territory
– An area with fixed boundaries
– Can change because of war, purchase, annexation
• Sovereignty
– Absolute authority, within its territorial boundaries
• Government
– Maintains order, provides services, enforces decisions
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Theories of the Origin of the
State
Theories of the Origin of the
State
• Evolution
–Evolved from the
family
Theories of the Origin of the
State
•Force
•Submit authority to a
ruling force
Theories of the Origin of the
State
• Divine Right
• Rulers were chosen by
god
Theories of the Origin of the
State
• Social Contract Theory
• People gave gov't power in return for
safety
• A government of “rules,” not “rulers”
Locke vs. Hobbes
• Hobbes – “state of nature” world without
gov’t, “nasty, brutish, short”
• Locke – “life, liberty, and property”
The Purposes of Government
• Maintain Social Order
– Courts
– Pay Taxes
– Makes laws
The Purposes of Government
• Provide Essential Public Services
– School
– Police and Fire Services
– FDA
– Construction of Highways
The Purposes of Government
• National Security
– Armed Services
– Alliances or Treaties
– United Nations
– CIA
Control the Nations Economy
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Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Make Economic Decisions
– Money Supply
– Currency
– Interest Rate
– Banking
– Taxes