thomas hobbes said life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”...
TRANSCRIPT
Why do we need Government?
Thomas Hobbes said life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Humans naturally compete for territory, resources and power. If this is true, and if there are no laws… what would result?
What would our world be like without government?
Thomas Hobbes said life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Humans naturally compete for territory, resources and power. If this is true, and if there are no laws… what would result?
What would our world be like without government?
Thomas Hobbes said life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Humans naturally compete for territory, resources and power. If this is true, and if there are no laws… what would result?
What would our world be like without government?
the ruling authority of a community, an organization that has the power to make
and enforce laws.
Government:
Keep Order◦ Pass and enforce laws, Establish courts
Functions of Government
Provide services◦ Schools, libraries, hospitals, parks, water,
fire/police departments
Functions of Government
Provide security ◦ Prevent crime, protect citizens from foreign attack
Functions of Government
Guide the community◦ Manage the economy, foreign relations
Functions of Government
John Locke – English philosopher, wrote Second Treatise of Government◦Main purpose of government is to protect people’s natural rights
◦Natural Rights: right you have because you are human LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY
◦No Absolute Power for Kings
Foundations of American Government:
◦State of Nature – situation without laws and government
◦Social Contract Theory = solution to a state of nature
◦People agree to give up some freedom and create a government to rule in exchange for protection and security. In this agreement people consent to obey the laws created by the government.
“the consent of the governed”
Republic – example Rome◦Republic –the people’s representatives administer the government, allowing it to be extended over a much larger area.
Foundations of American Government:
3. Democracy – example Greece◦Democracy – the authority of government rests with the people.
US is a representative democracy – citizens choose a smaller group to represent them
US is NOT a direct democracy – citizens vote on every issue (ex. New England town mtgs.)
Foundations of American Government:
Montesquieu – a French philosopher◦Powers of Gov’t should be separated
◦Power should be balancedEach branch should check the others to ensure no one branch is too powerful
Foundations of American Government:
THE UNITED STATES HAS A
Representative Democracy or a
Democratic Republic form of government
US Levels of Government Federal – United States
State – North Carolina
Local – Pineville
** FEDERALISM – the principle of one central government and several state or local governments.