2/9 Government Background Day 2

1. Collect RG
2. Lectures 1-2 through 1-4:
American Government Lecture Notes 1-2

Did You Know?—One of the smallest nations in the world also has one of the oldest governments. Switzerland began in 1291 as a confederation of 3 small cantons, or provincial governments, and today includes 23 cantons.

I. Government Systems
a. Unitary System—all power to the central govt., which can create local govts.
b. Federal System—power divided between national and state/provincial govts.

Discussion Question—What are the major advantages of a federal system of government?
II. Constitutions and Government
a. Plan that provides rules for govt.
b. Can be written or unwritten—provides structure
c. Set out goals, purposes, and ideals
d. Supreme law for states

Discussion Question—How important do you think a written constitution is to a democratic form of government?

III. Politics and Government
a. Politics is the effort to control or influence the policies and actions of govt.
b. Individuals and groups use politics to seek benefits from govt.

IV. Governing in a Complex World
a. World is divided into industrialized (developed) nations, newly industrialized nations (developing nations), and underdeveloped nations (little or no industry).
b. Many nations are different, but interdependent

Discussion Question—What responsibility does the United States bear for the welfare of other nations?
American Government Lecture Notes 1-3

Did You Know? Over 100 million Americans voted in the presidential election of 2000. Yet nearly twice that number were eligible to vote. George W. Bush was elected president with less than 50 percent of the popular vote.

I. Major Types of Government
a. Governments may be classified according to who governs the state
b. Autocracy—authority resides in a single individual (dictatorship or absolute monarchy)
c. Oligarchy—small group holds power (communist)
d. Democracy—people hold the power (U.S.)

Discussion Question: Critics argue that the low voter turnout in recent national elections is a weakness in our democratic system. Do you agree or disagree?

II. Characteristics of Democracy
a. Government tries to provide an equal opportunity for people to develop their abilities
b. Majority rule that respects minority rights
c. Elections
i. Everyone has the right to vote at majority age (21-now 18)
ii. Votes have equal weight
iii. Candidates can freely express their views

Discussion Question: Why do you think that nations with wide gaps between the rich and the poor are less likely to have successful democracies?



III. Conditions that promote democracy
a. Growing economies with a large middle class
b. Participation
c. Public schools open to all
d. Voluntary groups independent of govt.
e. People accept values such as individual liberty and equality

Discussion Question: As a society, what steps do you think we might take to encourage more people to participate in our democratic government?


American Government Lecture Notes 1-4

I. Why Economics---why must there be economic systems?
Answer: Scarcity.
Scarcity is defined as: is the problem of infinite human needs and wants, in a world of finite resources. In other words, society does not have sufficient productive resources to fulfill those wants and needs. Alternatively, scarcity implies that not all of society's goals can be pursued at the same time; trade-offs are made of one good against others.

II. Role of Economic Systems
a. What to produce?
b. How to produce?
c. For whom to produce?

Discussion Question: Why is some government involvement necessary for economic systems to function?

III. Economic systems and Forms of Government are not the same thing, but are closely associated.
IV. Three Types of Economic Systems

V. Capitalism (Market)
a. Based on free enterprise
b. Developed gradually from economic/political changes in Europe (manorialism to mercantilism to capitalism)
i. Adam Smith—Wealth of Nations
ii. Laissez-faire
c. Government’s role in U.S. economy increased since 1900s

Discussion Question: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of capitalism?

VI. Socialism (Mixed)
a. Govt. owns basic means of production, plans the use of resources, distributes many products, provides basic social services
b. Revolutionary socialism and democratic socialism

Discussion Question: Who benefits the most from socialism?

VII. Communism (Command)
a. Based on ideas by Karl Marx
i. Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital
ii. Proletariat—bourgeoisie
iii. Worker revolution
iv. Eventually no need for govt.
b. In practice
i. Govt. makes all economic decisions
ii. Owns the land, natural resources, industry, banks, and transportation
iii. Govt. controls all mass communication