Transcript Chapter 1.1 Government and the Public Good

Chapter 1.1
Government and the Public Good
• “In order to
remain sovereign,
governments must
promote the public
good.”
•Agree or
Disagree
How do governments of sovereign
states establish rules in their society?
• Laws
– A set of rules, made
and enforced by
government
– You are legally bound
to follow the law.
• What does that mean?
Types of laws
• Natural law
– System of justice derived from nature rather than from the rules
of society
• Right to defend yourself
• Criminal laws
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Murder
Theft
Assault
Battery
• Civil laws
• Speed limits
• Divorce
• Paying back college loans
Just how many laws are there?
• Hundreds of thousands!!!
– Organized in groups called public policies
• laws that government make in a particular area of
public concern.
– Example: Traffic safety
» Includes laws that set speed limits
» Require the use of seat belts
» Establish rules for issuing driver’s licenses.
Origins of Government
• Ancient Greece
– Established a
democratic form of
government that lasted
almost 1,000 years!!!
• Finally defeated by the
Romans around 100
BC
Government in Greece
• Greece was divided
into many small citystates
– Controlled by local
governors
– Largest city-state was
Athens, Greece.
– each city-state felt it
was better than other
city-states in Greece
• This caused turmoil.
Some Greek City-States
Sparta
Some Greek City States
Troy
How did Greece survive so long if
they fought all the time?
• They held a common identity in their style
of government.
– All governors had a single vote for “common
law”
• What are “common laws”?
– Laws that would be universal anywhere in Greece.
» What do we call these today?
The Roman Empire
• Lasted from 45 BC to
around 1450 AD
– started by Emperor
Julius Caesar
– Finally gets defeated
by invaders who
establish own nations
based on monarchy.
• Mostly Attila the Hun.
Roman Government
• Emperor
– Had total control over
military
• Meant he controlled
everything by force
– Could not make laws
• Who could?
• The Senate
– 50 elected men who met
and made laws for Roman
empire
Roman Architecture
Roman Empire
End of an empire…birth of a
monarch!
• Emperors are no
more…now we have
kings!
– What are kings?
• Rulers who claim to
have been given power
to rule by some “higher
being”
– Known as divine right
of kings
– Kings = absolute
power!!
Long live the King!
• How do you know
who is supposed to
be king?
– It stays in the family
• This makes it legitimate
• Legitimacy
– Rightful authority over
its citizens
– Who gives kings
authority??
Should people allow a “King” to
rule?
• 17th century England
– Two theories
eventually emerge
• Thomas Hobbes’ social
contract
• John Locke’s natural
laws
Thomas Hobbes
• People give up their
individual rights in
exchange for the
kings protection
against invaders.
– Fair deal, right?
– Written in book called
Leviathan
John Locke’s Natural Rights
from book Two Treatises on Government
• Locke’s belief:
– PEOPLE MUST GIVE
CONSENT!!
– If no consent, rebel!!!
– Why?
• All people are born with
natural rights that they
are born with!
– Life
– Liberty
– Pursuit of property!!!
How does a king stay in power?
• Maintain order and listen to the public
– Birth of politics
• People participate with their leaders to bring changes to laws
• Provide services
– Take care of sick and elderly
– Make sure there is food in winter
• Promote values
– Basic principles by which people act and live their lives.
• Do what is best for the public good
– Public interests or well being
One Huge Castle….