Intro to government terms

1. Key Terms of Government
An Introduction...

2. • Government is one of the oldest human
inventions
• People formed governments when they
realized they could not live with out it.

3. Key Terms to Understand
Government...
• State - a body of people, living in a
defined territory, organized politically and
having power to make and enforce law
without the consent of any higher authority

4. Lets break that down
1. Population - must have people to
govern
2. Territory - land with recognized
boundaries
3. Government - An agency through which
state policies are made and enforced
(remember state is the people)
• Two Types
– Limited and Unlimited

5. Two Types of Government

6. Lets break that down
Power - having the right,
authority or influence to carry
out the will of the people, or
exercise control
– Two Types
• Explicit - agreeing to the
contract; joining a society
that already had it; spelled
out clearly
• Implicit - you stay where
you are and follow the
laws; implied

7. Lets break that down
4. Sovereignty - complete
independence and self-government

8. How did Governments
come about?
• 1. Force theory - one person took control
of an area and forced everyone to follow his
rule
– Conquest - weaker groups forced into submission
• 2. Evolutionary theory - government
developed out of a family idea. Father was
the head and rule maker. Eventually
families joined clans and one family leader
led the clan.
• 3. Divine Right Theory - God gives us the
right to rule to those born of royalty
(Justification).

9. • 4. Social Contract Theory - an
agreement that says men agree to
work together for the best of
everyone. A state exists with the
permission of the people.
– Founder - John Locke
– Our government is formed out of two
important ideas: Social Contract Laws of
Nature and Classical Republicanism