Basic Forms of Government

• Sovereignty is the right to wield supreme authority over a region, people, or oneself, encompassing the power to command and enforce.

Basic Governments

• Monarchy involves a single ruler with supreme authority, which can be absolute or partial, sharing power with another government body, like in England.
• Aristocracy is rule by rich nobles.
• Oligarchy is rule by a small group of wealthy, educated elites.

Democracy

• Direct Democracy entails every eligible individual directly voting on issues.
• Representative Democracy involves citizens voting for representatives.
• Democracies often adopt Presidential, Parliamentary, or mixed systems.
• Dictatorship is the rule by military leaders.

Totalitarianism

• Totalitarianism is based around a centralized leader employing propaganda.
• It suppresses opposition, exerts control over education and media.
• Maintained by a secret police force.
• Individual freedoms suppressed for citizens to conform to state goals.
• Inconsistent law enforcement creates fear.
• Theocracy sees power derived from a deity or religion and aligns state ideals with those of the people.
• Religious doctrines are enforced, leading to the suppression of other beliefs.

Colonialism

• Colonialism involves a leader exploiting another territory's resources for personal gain.
• Socialism connects politics and the economy, ideally prioritizing public good over profit.

Key Words

• Social Contract is an agreement where people give up some rights for safety, consenting to be governed.
• Natural Rights include life, liberty, and property.
• Autocracy is a form of government with one person holding total absolute power.
• Anarchy is the absence of government.
• Constitution is a document outlining the principles and fundamental laws of a government.
• Preamble of a Constitution states the reasons for its writing and establishes that government power comes from people.
• Most countries utilize some form of government, categorized into rule by one, few, or many.

Forms of Government

Presidential Democracy

• The people directly vote for the president.
• More attuned to public opinion than a parliament.
• Presidents have greater legitimacy due to public approval.
• Removing presidents from power is challenging.
• Originating in the USA, it lacks old historical examples.

Parliamentary Democracy

• Parliament makes laws and is elected by the people.
• Members of parliament elect a prime minister.
• Legislative and executive branches are merged.
• Parliament can remove the prime minister with a vote of no confidence.
• The English Parliament serves as a historical example.

Direct Democracy

• All citizens gather to vote, with each vote carrying equal weight.
• Impractical in the modern world due to large populations and time constraints.
• Switzerland approximates this model through citizen referendums on laws.
• Citizens can propose laws via the initiative process.
• Citizen participation may wane due to frequent voting.
• Limited forms exist in local town meetings.
• Athens provides a historical example.

Single-Party State

• The constitution allows only one party to govern.
• Power is concentrated among a small elite within the party.
• Elites nominate candidates and make decisions.
• Aims to avoid political infighting.
• Elites' views may diverge from public opinion, causing unrest.
• Dissenting voices are excluded.
• Most single-party states are socialist republics.
• Nazi Germany is a historical example.

Monarchy

• One of the oldest forms of government.
• Monarchal governments have existed for millennia.
• Efficient in decision-making.
• Loyalty to the ruling family unites the nation.
• Monarchs, such as kings, queens, sultans, emperors, or emirs, inherit power and usually rule for life.
• They often face legal restrictions.
• It still exists in the UK.
• Rome before becoming a Republic is a historical example.

Dictatorships

• Leaders seize power by force.
• There is centralization of power by a military officer or political leader.
• Pressure builds, leading to potential rebellion.
• Nazi Germany is a historical example.

Theocracy

• Political decisions align with religious values.
• Religious conflicts are common.
• Iran and Vatican City are current examples.
• The Iranian Caliphate is a historical example.

Aristocracy

• Originates from the Greek concept of "rule of the best."
• Society structured with nobles at the top, government in the middle, and commoners at the bottom.
• The French Nobility serves as a historical example.

Fascism

• It suppresses opposition/forces suppression of opposition.
• Believes that some people (specifically people in the nation the government is governing) is the best
• Fascism is characterized by militarism under a dictatorial leader.
• Fascist Italy is a historical example.

Mix of Governments

• The Roman Republic serves as a historical example.

Economics

Capitalism

• Focuses on the pursuit of profit.
• Operates on a free market system.
• Income is largely market-driven.
• There is private ownership of businesses and production.
• Leads to wealth concentration.
• The USA is a historical example.

Communism

• Aims for uniform wealth distribution.
• Aims to restricts monopolies.
• May disincentivize effort due to lack of advancement opportunities.
• The Soviet Union is a historical example.

Socialism

• Workers own the businesses.
• Aims to benefit everyone by controlling property for all.
• Aims to meet human needs directly.
• Government regulates pricing of goods and services.
• People depend on the government for needs.
• The People’s Republic of China in 1949 is a historical example.

Mixed Economy

• Emerges when government introduces state-owned entities into a free market or through taxes and tariffs.
• Can arise from socialist systems allowing free markets.
• Germany, India, China, and Japan are historical examples.

Articles of Confederation & Constitution

Origins of US Constitution

• 1776: US declared independence from Great Britain and Revolutionary War began
• From 1771-81 the US was governed by the Articles of Confederation.
• It made a weak federal government, states were given too much power, trading with each other but also taxing each other, and printing their own money
• 1787: Constitutional Convention was held to revise the articles.
• Everyone went rogue and just made a completely new one which is our current Constitution
• The convention was presided over by George Washington in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

US Constitution

• It is the supreme law.
• Frames the government (Right & Responsibilities)
• It outlines rights for citizens.
• It can be amended.

Articles of Confederation

• It was intended to avoid a strong central government to prevent replicating Great Britain's system.
• It was needed a government ASAP
• This lasted 10 years, as the first government attempt.

Historical Context

• First Government: Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)
• The Articles of Confederation lasted for only 10 years
• Government Type: A "firm league of friendship" among states
• Legislative Body: One-house Congress with each state having one vote
• Decision Making: Required 9 out of 13 votes for any decision
• No Executive or Judicial Branch: No president, no judiciary system

Limitations

• Limited powers of Congress:
• Could declare war, conduct foreign affairs, and make treaties
• Could NOT collect taxes; states were responsible for revenue
• Achieving policy changes was difficult due to the supermajority (9/13 states in agreement) requirement

Accomplishments

• War Victory: Successfully won the Revolutionary War (with caveats for slaves and Native Americans)
• Northwest Ordinance of 1787:
• Established a procedure for creating 5 new states (north of Ohio River)
• Acknowledged land claims of American Indians but was often ignored
• Outlawed slavery in new states

Major Issues

• Tax Collection: Inability to collect taxes led to massive debts for states and the national government
• Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787):
• A revolt led by Daniel Shays against foreclosures due to tax debts.
• Highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
• Reactions: mixed feelings among leaders
• Ex: Thomas Jefferson viewed rebellion positively, believing it was necessary for liberty.
• Conclusion: many elites felt that too much democratic liberty could threaten private property rights
• Articles of Confederation were deemed inadequate, leading to the creation of the U.S. Constitution to establish a stronger federal government

Historical Influences on Creating the Constitution

• Magna Carta
• English Bill of Rights: Determines rights of English Citizens, inspired US Bill of Rights
• John Locke’s Natural Rights (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness), Pursuit of Happiness changed to Property in US Constitution
• Montesquieu’s Separation of Powers (Judicial, Legislative, Executive)
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract (People give up some rights for safety and protection of government)
• Shay’s Rebellion (1786-1787): Highlighted flaws of Articles of Confederation

Pros and Cons

• Pros:
• Established a constitutional government
• Let America successfully declare war
• Did not let the central government takeover/have too much power
• Cons
• Weak central government

What is a Government Supposed to Do

• Keep Order: Law enforcement to make sure people follow the laws
• Make Laws: Provides rules for the people to follow
• Protect the Country: Protects the people of the country and the territory from attack via military power
• Help the Citizens: Providing social services people need like schools, hospitals, etc.