Introduction to GovernmentI. What is government?II. What do governments do?III. Limited government/liberalismI. -Democracy, dictatorship, monarchs are all governments-Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) wrote Leviathan in 1651. Leviathan says that society without agovernment is a terrible place to be- called “state of nature”. Men are constantly living in continual fear. “Life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short”. There is a danger of violent death.-It is the survival of the fittest.-While Thomas Hobbes was writing, he lived through the English Civil War. There was no monarchy in England.-Collapsed states with no government, no laws, and no structure.-Rowanda in the mid 1990’s… country collapsed. “State of nature”. There was a historian that wrote about these situations. He talks about getting a drink and how there is no basic trust. You have to open your own bottle or if it is like in a bowl, the host would have to drinkout of the bowl first. Basic trust is gone.-Government- institutions and procedures through which a land and its people are ruled.-Government- rules, all institutions, it’s territorial, authority to rule, capacity (ability) to rule,enforce procedures/rules/policies.II. All governments:1. Have to maintain order- protect life and property.-all governments use force to do this, institute rules/laws, courts for people who don’t follow rules; even democracies.-use coercive power (example: a speeding ticket, meaning do not speed)-different depending on the type of government (some will run people over with a tank or some will give out tickets)2. National defense- protect national sovereignty-some kind of military/armed forces3. Provide public goods-Private goods are individual- you only have it if YOU buy it, you don’t have it to share (example- car or a cup of coffee)4. Socialize the young into the political culture-Pledge of allegiance- this is the start of patriotism-Class- socialization which feels like we have strong ties with our government5. Collect taxes- we need these funds for 1-4 ^-coercive powers!!!!... Used to gain revenue through taxes-wide variety of types/waysIII. -Thomas Jefferson says that the “government which governs least, is the best government”-Aspects of our lives that we don’t want government.-rights to privacy and speech which is limited government.-We Americans protect our own rights-Liberalism- classical political philosophy-Madison explains our system by saying that government needs to control us but also itself (limited government.-Government is created to protect your rights- liberal-Liberalism- name of a certain kind of theory of government, one centering on the individualand primarily concerned with protecting the individual’s rights through a social contract-Liberalism-individual rights, aka protecting your rights-Bourgeoisie- “freemen of the city, or Bourg”, made living by taking over the parliament and being in it. This is the first seed of liberalism.-Political power tied to aristocrat family/lands which are monarchs-Livelihood from trade- gaining economic power. This is economically well but politically not well.-Kings do what they want. Parliaments are weak but they need political power. No protection of property because the king can tax them on their trade.-use parliament to limit power of monarchies, “God’s representative”-Magna Carta (1215, 13th century)- early attempts of limiting power of a king in England-This was the first attempt of constitutionalism-Charles the 1st wanted the petition of rights-In the United States, John Locke (1632-1704) was the first liberal thinker.-Hobbes is not a liberal because he believes in the social contract with the government. He thinks that in order for the government to protect us, we give up all of our rights. This does not limit the government in any way.-Locke said that the state of nature was inconvenient. Social contract with the government gave up some rights to the government but we didn’t give up the right for
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