• Key Terms: government, public policies, legislative power, executive power, dictatorship, democracy, Aristotle, state, sovereign, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke 

• Key Questions: What effect did the Enlightenment have on the concepts of liberty, rights, and the responsibilities of individuals? What Enlightenment principles can be seen in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution? 

• Big Question:

After reading the Preamble and excerpts from John Locke, answer the following questions.

1. Describe the role of government according to the social contract theory.

2. Explain how the US Constitution is an example of the social contract theory.

3. Explain a specific example of how the US Government today carries out the roles identified in the Preamble.

Taking Notes:

Your notes should be on the lecture and the book.

Notes: T1: I can identify the characteristics, forms, and purpose of government as well as the characteristics and origins of the state. (T1.1)

What is Government?

• • Institution which society creates and implements policies.

• 3 Types of power:

  • Legislative – create or legislate the laws

  • Executive – carry out, or execute the laws

  • Judicial – Judge the laws

• Governments exact origins are unknown, but we can imagine that it was created to better carry out the process of politics. So what is politics? The process by which society decides how power and resources are distributed. Who in the society reaps the benefits? Who pays the cost?

State

• • Population

  • Territory

  • Sovereignty

  • Government

    • Is Idaho a state? Is Moscow? Is US? Is France?

Origins:

• The Force Theory: An individual or group took over a territory and forced others to submit.

• The Evolutionary Theory: Heads of families were first government. AS they established territory, they became heads of state.

• The Divine Right of Kings Theory: God installs rulers.

  • Romans 13:1-2: Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

• The Social Contract Theory: The people give up power to government through a contract for the well-being of all.

  • The thirteen colonies came together and formed one state. This state has outlined its goals in the Preamble of the constitution. What are those goals?

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