Principles of Democracy

Ms. Nestico Unit 1

What is Democracy?

Form of government Rule by the people Representative or Direct? People have the right to vote Democrat or Republican - political parties Freedom or right to choose

Purposes of Government

1.

2.
3.

Make Laws -- Legislative Enforce Laws -- Executive Interpret & Change Laws - Judicial

Functions of Government
What is governments responsibility to its citizens?

1. 2. 3.

Ensure National Security/Protect Us Maintain Order/Resolve Conflict Provide Services

Maintaining Order
How does the government maintain order?

Police Courts FBI/CIA Congress and making laws

Providing Services

Welfare - cash assistance Food Stamps Healthcare --Medicaid/Medicare --Medical Assistance (MA) Social Security Education Transportation Regulatory Agencies --EPA, FDA, FCC Employment

Protecting Us

Military Homeland Security Jails/Detention Facilities Police and Fire Departments

I. Origins of Government
Aristotle - ancient Greek philosopher 384-322 BCE Coined the term polis or city-state --refers to ancient Greek government -- serves as the basis for democracy Aristotle known as Father of Democracy

Characteristics of a state (Based on Aristotles definition)

The term state is interchangeable with: country or city-state 1. People - population 2. Territory 3. Government 4. Sovereignty - the ability to rule oneself

II. Division of Political Authority - Aristotle

1.

Distribution of Power a. Unitary system b. Confederate System c. Federal System

Economic a. Capitalist b. Socialist c. Communist 3. Who Rules a. autocracy b. oligarchy c. democracy

2.

Distribution of Power
How does power flow?
A. Unitary System one central government with full authority over all political subdivisions or states

B.

Confederate System states are sovereign and individual but are all working toward a common goal; central government has limited power

C.

Federal System
power is shared between a central government and its political subdivisions

Capitalism

Free enterprise system Businesses/industries are privately owned Potential for income is unlimited People have to provide their own means for basic needs and services (ex. Healthcare, education, etc.) Extremes in social class structure Sometimes a high poverty rate Complete freedom and choice Social Darwinism (Charles Darwin) Survival of the Fittest - only the strong survive

Socialism

Government owns and operates some basic means of production (ex. Power plants, some hospitals, some farms, etc.) There are still some privately owned businesses but they can be heavily taxed People still have some choices regarding careers, etc. but government provides basic services (welfare, healthcare, etc.) Robinhood Theory - take from the rich and give to the poor Attempts to balance out the social class system

Communism

Government owns virtually all means of production (food, electricity, housing, higher education, hospitals, etc.) The goal of pure communism is to be a classless society - everyone is equal, there are no rich and no poor Communist Manifesto(1848) - Karl Marx & Frederik Engels - viewed communism as a utopian society where a collective government provides everything Government provides most basic necessities but most people are employed by the government Major Criticisms: no freedom of choice, no competition or drive to excel, breeding ground for corruption

Who/How Many Rule?

A.

Autocracy - one ruler 1. Dictatorship - single ruler with absolute power.

--no elections --may use force to maintain control 2. Monarchy - single ruler who gains leadership through inheritance --some have absolute power but not common today

-- Saudi Arabia - example

3.

Despotism rule by a single authority who holds all the power and everyone else is considered his slave Implies tyrannical rule

4.

Authoritarian Rule by a single authority who requires strict obedience to the state Maintains social control through oppressive measures (limits resources provided to the people).

5.

Totalitarian The state regulates virtually every aspect of public and private behavior Maintain power and control by extreme measures Examples: secret police propaganda control of mass media restriction of free discussion widespread use of terror

What is the difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

6.

Absolutism - one person with absolute power from the time of the nature of law and divine right of kings

Divine Right Theory

Identified in the 1600s Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan (1651-1690) in which divine right is initially discussed Divine right = a kings or rulers power comes directly from God Focus on the ruler, not the people Introduces the notion of a social contract

Social Contract Theory

Identifies that people do have rights Focus is on the people, not the ruler Government should actually be an agreement or contract between a people and its government Based on Natural Rights - the nature of law Social Contract Theory is extended to acknowledge that people have natural rights:

Natural Rights:
(derived from the study of natural law through Thomas Hobbes and John Locke)

Life, Liberty & Property

Social Contract Theory (cont.)

John Locke - Two Treaties of Government (1690) Social contract theory extended further to assume that people agree to obey the government in exchange for the government providing services and protection for the people.

Key to the beginning of US Government: John Lockes Social Contract Theory says that if the government does not hold up its end of the agreement, people have the right to break the contract and revolt

B. Oligarchy - a few/small group of rulers

1.

2.

3.

Totalitarianism - small group that rules the government that takes over virtually every aspect of peoples lives. Junta - small military group seizes power and begins their own government Aristocracy - rule by an elite upper class (our founding fathers)

4. Meritocracy - people with the highest IQ and effort/ability to rule. 5. Plutocracy - rule by the wealthy 6. Technocracy - run by the highly educated who believe that major business should have the most say in government

7.

Theocracy rulers rule on behalf of God and religion Vatican City Israel Iran

C. Democracy rule by the people

1.

2. 3. 4.

Republic - elected officials vote on policy issues/representatives of the people conduct the governments business Direct Democracy - every man has a say or vote on every issue Representative Democracy synonymous with republic Social Democracy - capitalist democracy begins incorporating aspects of socialism into its government practices & economy - controlled capitalism

Citizenship - 14th Amendment

A.

US Citizenship Rights 1. Vote 2. Serve on a jury 3. Hold public office 4. Public Services/Education 5. Own property/business 6. Due Process/legal protection

B.

Obligations of US Citizen 1. Pay taxes

2. Obey the law

C.

Ways to Be a US Citizen
1. Jus soli - of the soil --anyone born on US territory (military bases, embassies, etc.) 2. Jus sanguinis -- of blood --when both parents are US citizens --if at least one parent has been a citizen for a minimum of 10 yrs.

3.

Naturalization
(requirements)

a. Ability to read, write and speak English b. Good moral character c. Working knowledge of Civics/US History d. 5 years of permanent residency (3 years if married to a US citizen) e. Favorable disposition toward the US & the Constitution.

Citizenship Status
1.

Legal Alien a. Permanent resident - lives here permanently, has a green card and is working toward citizenship b. Non-resident - here temporarily, usually for work or education F-1 Visa = Student visa H-1 Visa = work visa c. Illegal Alien - obvious