Political Systems Roles of Government community 1 Governments should make rules that determine who will receive the things of value in a 2 Government must also have the authority to enforce rules Functions of Government Establish justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote the general welfare 4 Types of Law 1 Eternal God s own understanding of the universe 2 Natural A means by which rational creatures share in divine providence 3 Divine Superimposed on natural law God s word in the Bible 4 Positive The body of laws made by human beings John Locke 17th Century English Philosopher Natural Law Theory Intrinsic right to life liberty and property Equal Opportunity Have opportunity to do what you want regardless of gender background Equal Protection Law treats everyone the same Thomas Hobbes 17th Century English Philosopher State of Nature Theory Man is naturally evil or good Thomas Hobbes Man is naturally evil John Locke Man is naturally good Solution Social Contract Common Defense Agree it should be there but how much Drone Rights Robots that fly Public Interest General Welfare Jean Jacques Rousseau 18th Century French Philosopher General Will General Will Will of the people as a whole Public Interest Public Interest Welfare or well being of the general public Relevance or appeal to the general public Thomas Jefferson 18th Century American Lawyer Founding Father 2nd Vice President of the United States of America and 3rd President of the United States of America Alexander Hamilton 18th Century American Politician Founding Father 1st Secretary of the Treasury of the United States Founder of Nations financial system promoter of U S Constitution and Founder of the Federalist Party Agrarian Society economy based on maintaining crops and farmland Agricultural society Industrial Society economy based on technology to enable mass production This supports large populations and creates capacity for divisions in labor Thomas Jefferson Agrarian Society Alexander Hamilton Industrial Society Provision of Public Goods Public Goods Goods which private businesses do not want to or cannot supply Capitalism Capitalism An economic political system where trade and industry are controlled by private owners rather than regulated by the state 1 Private ownership of means of protection Tools land machinery ideas etc 2 A legal framework Capitalist system operate by the profit motive Government does not set the price Law of Supply and Demand Low Supply and High Demand means higher prices High Supply and Low Demand means lower prices Private Goods Are both exclusive and exhaustible Exclusive A good is excludable when you can prevent people who have not paid for good or service to have access to it Exhaustible A good is exhaustible if it can be depleted or you can run out of it Exhaustible Non Exhaustible Exclusive Private Goods Toll Goods Non Exclusive Common Pool Goods Public Goods Types of Goods Private Goods Food clothes cars TVs etc Common Pool Goods Timber Fish stocks Coal Air etc Toll Goods Toll bridges cinemas toll roads restaurants etc Public Goods National Defense Fire Protection etc Ideology A coherent set attitudes and beliefs that determines one s policy preference Socialization Process whereby our attitudes toward economic and social regulation etc are formed High Social Low Social Low Economic Liberal Libertarian High Economic Populist Conservative Power The relationship between people and organizations where one person or organizations is able to exercise a disportionately large amount of influence over the actions of others Ideal Democracy 1 The People All citizens are directly involved in the policy making process 2 Principles The principle of one person one vote is adhered to so Liberal Representation Democracy Limitations 1 Exclusiveness Women foreign born individuals and slaves were denied any political power Impractical 30 000 40 000 citizens can become difficult 2 Montesquieu and Rousseau are responsible Montesquieu 17th Century French lawyer and Political philosopher The Spirit of Laws and Separation of Powers Jean Jacques Rousseau 18th Century French Philosopher The Social Contract Representation Those who are governed democratically elect a certain number of individuals for an elected time period Principles 1 One person one vote 2 Representative must vote according to the people they represent Age of Enlightenment Cultural movement of intellectuals in Europe and American colonies Goals 1 Stabilize the social and economic environment by making a social contract 2 Protect Natural Rights 3 Resolve disputes that occur in society to protect individual rights Problems 1 Non elites roles are diminished and they are considered intellectual light weights 2 Elites that would tamper the lack of enlightened understanding Edmund Burke Trustee role for political representatives instead of a delegate role Reflection of People Wisdom Trustee Delegate Developmental Democracy Assumes the best about society Citizens are involved in civic activities and what is best for society as a whole Engaged citizens become responsible members of the community Acknowledges the need for elected officials but the people are responsible for their selection and oversees their work Pluralism Democracy is connected to power held by special interests groups The people are not interested in becoming involved People become involved through small government groups Special interest groups jockey for power in areas that pertain to certain issues interests and values The Rise of Interest Groups Interest Groups Organized groups that try to push government to adopt certain policies and measures Problems 1 Pluralists do not judge actual equality but rather equality of political opportunity Elitism Twig decisions Made by the public Little impact on society Branch decisions Interest Groups Some impact on society Trunk decisions Elites All important decisions