Principles of Government

Name:

Unit 1 Packet

Principles of Government

Bring this packet with your to class every day. All of the assignments for this unit are contained within and will be turned in the day of the unit test.

Purposes of Government

Why is government important?

Step One:

In the box below, draw a colored image representing life WITHOUT government. What would it look like? / In the box below, draw a colored image representing life WITH government (or the benefits of having a government. What would it look like?
Describe the above scene: / Describe the above scene:

Step Two: Read pages 8-10 (the Preamble to the Constitution), and do the following:

Form a more perfect union
Define:
Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: / Establish justice
Define:
Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: / Insure domestic tranquility
Define:
Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government:
Provide for the common defense
Define:
Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: / Promote the general welfare
Define:
Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: / Secure the blessings of liberty
Define:
Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government:

Step Three: Look back over your “Life With Govt.” picture…which of the 6 purposes of government does your picture look like? Why?

Government and where it came from…

Name:

Date:

1. The four main theories…

The Force Theory

The ______Theory

The Divine Right Theory

The ______Theory

2. The Force Theory

Many scholars believe that the idea of ______came about because of force.

One person or a small group claimed ______over an area and forced all within it to ______to their ______.

When that rule was established the basic elements of the ______; ______, ______, ______, and ______were present.

Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.

3. The Evolutionary Theory

Other scholars argue that the idea of government developed naturally out of the early ______.

Within the primitive family there was one person at the ______, in other words the one that ______.

Over time the one family developed into a ______of related families or a ______.

Eventually the clan became a ______.

Eventually the tribe went through the ______and tied itself to the land- a state was ______. (Awww!)

Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.

4. The Divine Right Theory

When you learned about European politics from the 15-18th centuries you learned about ______.

Divine Right stated that ______created the state and that God had given those of ______a “divine right” to rule.

The people had to obey their ______as they would obey God.

Any who opposed Divine Right were charged with ______and ______sin.

Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.

5. Questioning the Divine Right Theory

Remember that event in European history called the ______?

During the Enlightenment many people started to question ______and people eventually began to govern using the present-day ______government model.

6. The Social Contract Theory

Before governments all people were free to do what they pleased. Meaning they could take what they wanted from whoever they wanted…utter ______right?

The Social Contract Theory states that people decided to form a ______so that they could all be safe.

All people living in the given area of the state gave up the same ______of ______and in return received ______and ______.

The state exists only to serve the ______.

Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.

What acronym will help you remember all 4 theories?

Systems of Government

System based on geographic distribution of power
Confederation/
Confederate
Government / Federal / Unitary
Define and explain the system. Who has power? How is it shared?
Structure (Draw a diagram/picture to illustrate the structure)
Example Countries
Advantages of this system?
Disadvantages of this system?
System based on relationship between executive and legislative branch
Parliamentary / Presidential
Define and explain the system. Who has power? How is it shared?
Structure (Draw a diagram/picture to illustrate the structure)
Example Countries
Advantages of this system?
Disadvantages of this system?

1. Could a parliamentary or presidential system also be a dictatorship? Why or why not?

2. Based on what we have discussed, what geographic distribution of power do you think a dictatorship would best operate under? Explain your reasoning?

3. What does it mean to be sovereign and why is it important (page 6)

4. What is legitimacy and why is it important?

5. Based on the map below and the definition of a federal government, why do you think so many large countries have a federal government?

Communism vs. Democracy

Democraticandcommunistpolitical systems are based on different ideological principles. Although superficially they seem to share the "power to the people" philosophy, in practice the two systems of government structure the economic and political fabric of society in markedly different ways.

In the economic sphere,communismcalls for the government to take control of all the capital and industry in the country in an effort to get rid of economic inequality. On the other hand, ademocracyrespects individuals' right to own property and means of production.

The political landscape is also very different in a democracy vs. under communism. In a democratic society people are free to create their own political parties and contest in elections, which are free of coercion and fair to all contestants. In a communist society, however, the government is controlled by one political party and political dissent is not tolerated.

Comparison chart

Communism / Democracy
Philosophy / From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Free-access to the articles of consumption is made possible by advances in technology that allow for super-abundance. / All eligible citizens get equal say in decisions
Definition / International theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the community or state. Rejection of free markets and extreme distrust of Capitalism in any form. / is ruled by the omnipotent majority. In a Democracy, an individual, and any group of individuals composing any minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of the majority. It is a case of Majority-over-Man.
Political System / Usually takes the form of totalitarianism as Marx described in The Communist Manifesto. Cronyism common. / Elected officials
Economic System / The means of production are held in common, negating the concept of ownership in capital goods. Production is organized to provide for human needs directly without any use for money. Communism is predicated upon a condition of material abundance. / Elected by the voters. Usually capitalist.
Religion / Abolished - all religious and metaphysics is rejected. / Permitted
Free Choice / Either the collective "vote" or the state's rulers make economic and political decisions for everyone else. / Permitted within legal limits
Social Structure / All class distinctions are eliminated. / Class distinctions can become pronounced due to capitalist society. Varies from state to state
Private Property / Abolished. The concept of property is negated and replaced with the concept of commons and ownership with "usership". / Permitted
Discrimination / In theory, all members of the state are considered equal. / In theory, all citizens have an equal say and so are treated equally. However often allows for the tyranny of the majority over the minority

1. In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between communism and democracy?

1. In your opinion, what is the biggest similarity between communism and democracy?

1. If you had a choice, which of the two ideologies would you rather live in?

Democracy: Representative vs. Direct pp notes

1. What is democracy?

______

–People have a ______in what happens

Direct Democracy

Aka- “Pure Democracy”, or “Athenian Democracy” because it was first used in Athens, Greece

Definition: ______

Video clip:

What is happening?

There are small towns who still operate like this

–US

–______

–Germany

But no ______operate like this today…too many people

Many countries that are representative democracies allow for three forms of political action that provide limited direct democracy:

–Referenda-people vote, and can reject (______) a current law

–Initiatives-people vote, and ______

–Recalls-give people the right to ______before the end of their term, although this is very rare in modern democracies (Kwami Kilpatrick-Detroit Mayor).

Representative Democracy

Aka- “Indirect Democracy”, because the people are indirectly involved

Definition: ______

Video clip:

–

What is happening?

Who has a representative democracy today?

•The United States (Congress, President)

•Canada (Parliament, Prime Minister)

•England (Parliament, Prime Minister)

•Germany (Chancellor, Bundestag)

•Etc…many more!

Why are we a Representative Democracy?

•Our founding fathers insisted from the beginning that we be a Representative Democracy.

•BUT-could we have a direct democracy today?

Pros to having a direct democracy / Cons to having a direct democracy

Do you think a direct democracy could work in the US today? EXPLAIN.

Core Democratic Values reading/note assignment

1. The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions: worth of the individual, equality of all persons, majority rule with minority rights, the necessity of compromise, and individual freedom. These are what we as Americans should value, and hold dear. Describe each below.

a. Worth of the Individual

b. Equality of all Persons

c. Majority Rule with Minority Rights

d. the Necessity of Compromise

1. Individual Freedom

2. In the United States, we DO NOT have equality of condition. What does this mean? Why do we not have it?

3. Sometimes Core Democratic Values conflict with other Core Democratic Values. Give an example of where individual freedoms and life (worth of the individual) might conflict.

4. Why is “Necessity of Compromise” so tough in a diverse society?

5. Which Core Democratic Value seems to be the MOST important? Explain.

6. Describe some basic elements of the American economy. Does a Democracy HAVE to be a free-enterprise (capitalist) society? Explain.

Make 2 Generalizations about the video history clip “March of Democracy” from the Maps of War website

ISIS: The first terror group to build an Islamic state?

Video:

The face of a balding, middle-aged man stares unsmilingly into the camera. He is dressed in a suit and tie and could pass for a midlevel bureaucrat.

But the photograph is that of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who has transformed a few terror cells harried to the verge of extinction into the most dangerous militant group in the world.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has thrived and mutated during the ongoing civil war in Syria and in the security vacuum that followed the departure of the last American forces from Iraq.

The aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.

With the seizure of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, and advances on others, that aim appears within reach.

ISIS controls hundreds of square miles where state authority has evaporated. It ignores international borders and has a presence all the way from Syria's Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad.

What are its origins?

In 2006, al Qaeda in Iraq -- under the ruthless leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- embarked on seemingly arbitrary and brutal treatment of civilians as it tried to ignite a sectarian war against the majority Shia community.

It came close to succeeding, especially after the bombing of the Al-Askariya Mosque, an important Shia shrine in Samarra, which sparked retaliatory attacks.

But the killing of al-Zarqawi by American forces, the vicious treatment of civilians and the emergence of the Sahwa (Awakening) Fronts under moderate Sunni tribal leaders nearly destroyed the group.

Nearly, but not quite.

When U.S. forces left Iraq, they took much of their intelligence-gathering expertise with them.

Iraqi officials began to speak of a "third generation" of al Qaeda in Iraq.

Two years ago, a former spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan,warned that"if the Iraqi security forces are not able to put pressure on them, they could regenerate."

The capability of those Iraqi forces was fatally compromised by a lack of professional soldiers, the division of military units along sectarian lines and a lack of the equipment needed for fighting an insurgency, such as attack helicopters and reconnaissance capabilities.

The new al Qaeda was rebranded in 2006 as the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI). It would add "and Syria" to its name later.

The group exploited a growing perception among many Sunnis that they were being persecuted by the Shia-dominated government led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, starved of resources and excluded from a share of power.

The arrest of senior Sunni political figures and heavy-handed suppression of Sunni dissent were the best recruiting sergeants ISI could have. And it helped the new leader re-establish the group's influence.

Who is its master of terror?

Abu Bakr al Baghdadi graduated to the top job in 2010 -- at the age of 39 -- after Abu Omar al Baghdadi was killed in a joint U.S.-Iraqi operation.

Al Baghdadi's group was in a pitiful state. But with U.S. forces and intelligence on the way out, he launched a revival.

Very little is known about Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, but a biography posted on jihadist websites last year said he held a Ph.D. in Islamic studies from a university in the capital.

He formed his own militant group in the Samarra and Diyala areas, where his family was from, before joining al Qaeda in Iraq.

Al Baghdadi even served four years in a U.S. prison camp for insurgents, at Bucca in southern Iraq -- a time in which he almost certainly developed a network of contacts and honed his ideology.

He was released in 2009 and went to work.

What is ISIStrying to accomplish?

It wants to establish an Islamic caliphate, or state, stretching across the region.

ISIS has begun imposing Sharia law in the towns it controls. Boys and girls must be separated at school; women must wear the niqab or full veil in public. Sharia courts often dispense brutal justice, music is banned and the fast is enforced during Ramadan.

Sharia law covers both religious and non-religious aspects of life.

Where does the group's money come from?

In the beginning, al Baghdadi focused on secrecy -- with loosely connected cells making it more difficult to hunt down the leadership -- and on money.

Extortion, such as demanding money from truck drivers and threatening to blow up businesses, was one revenue stream; robbing banks and gold shops was another.

It seemed the group had become little more than gangsters, but the income would help finance a growing stream of suicide attacks and assassinations that would poison the political atmosphere.

It would also aid the recruitment of Sunni tribal fighters and finance spectacular prison raids that liberated hundreds of fighters, as well as attacks on police patrols and the assassination of officials.

Now, al Baghdadi has a new strategy for generating resources: large-scale attacks aimed at capturing and holding territory.

AyhamKamel of the Eurasia Group, a U.S.-based consultancy, says that in the latest iteration of this strategy, ISIS will "use cash reserves from Mosul's banks, military equipment from seized military and police bases and the release of 2,500 fighters from local jails to bolster its military and financial capability."

What's been its key to survival?

Al Baghdadi avoided al-Zarqawi's mistakes by avoiding the alienation of powerful tribal figures.

When it captured Falluja, west of Baghdad, in January, it worked with local tribal leaders rather than raise its black flag over the city.

One of the group's ideologues, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, even admitted: "As for our mistakes, we do not deny them. Rather, we will continue to make mistakes as long as we are humans. God forbid that we commit mistakes deliberately."

How is it drawing support?

ISIS is, in essence, trying to capture and channel the resentment of the Sunni street. And in both Syria and Iraq, it is trying to win favor through dawa -- organizing social welfare programs and even recreational activities for children, distributing food and fuel to the needy, and setting up clinics.

Again, having the money matters. The price it demands is enforcement of the strict Sharia code.

How does Syria fit into the picture?

A senior U.S. counterterrorism official told CNN this week that ISIS looks at Syria and Iraq as "one interchangeable battlefield and its ability to shift resources and personnel across the border has measurably strengthened its position in both theaters."

The explosion of violence in Syria was a gift to al Baghdadi.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad lost control over large parts of the North and the long border with Iraq.

The group, still known as ISI at the time, could build a rear base where it could recruit foreign fighters, organize and escape from any Iraqi army operations.

Al Baghdadi may have sent operatives across the border as early as the autumn of 2011, and the group later changed its name -- adding "al Sham" for Syria.

It moved swiftly to take control of the Syrian province of Raqqa, aided by the al-Assad regime's focus on Homs and Aleppo.

What is its relationship with other al Qaeda groups?

As it has grown in strength, the group's vision of a caliphate under its control has expanded.

Its ambition extended to declaring early in 2013 that it was absorbing another militant group in Syria, the al-Nusra Front. According to some accounts, al Baghdadi had been instrumental in creating the group; now he wanted its obedience.