Transcript C1.2(2)

C1.2(2)
• Why Do People Want to Limit the Power of Government?
• Govt’s often abuse power if not checked
• Human beings have an “unalienable right” (right given by God, and cannot be
taken away) to be free
• How Do People Limit Government?
• By creating a “constitution” - a body of fundamental principles to which a state or
other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
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• Constitutional Governments That Have Failed:
• Nazi Germany
• The Soviet Union (Russia) under Stalin
• France’s Constitutional Monarchy (1791)
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• Why do Constitutional Governments Sometimes Fail?
• Poor planning
• Ex: U.S.’s first attempt at gov’t: The Articles of Confederation
• “Cult of Personality”
• An individual uses the media, propaganda, or other methods the create an idealized and heroic
public image
• Ex: Hitler
• Citizens become “apathetic” - showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or
concern
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• Why did Our First Attempt at Gov’t Fail?
• The Articles of Confederation
• No central authority
• Too much power to the states
• Little unity
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Confederation
Federal
Power is extremely diffuse
Little central control
The national gov’t shares
power with state gov’t’s
Unitary
Most power is with national
gov’t
Local gov’t has little power
States have most power
C1.2(2) SUMMARY QUESTIONS
1. Why Do You Think People Want to Limit the Power of Gov’t?
2. Do You Agree With the Theory of Unalienable Rights? If So, Why? If Not,
Why?
3. Cult of Personality is Not Limited to only Gov’t. Give Examples Where You
See it Today (TV? Music?)
4. Should We Go Back and Adopt the Articles of Confederation as Our Form
of Gov’t Today? Why or Why Not?
5. Confederation. Federal. Unitary. Of These Three, Which Form of Gov’t
Would You Choose if You Were Creating a New Country Today? Explain
Why.