# Outline of government

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to government:
Government – system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a means by which organizational policies are enforced, as well as a mechanism for determining policy. In many countries, the government has a kind of constitution, a statement of its governing principles and philosophy.
While all types of organizations have governance, the term government is often used more specifically to refer to the approximately 200 independent national governments and subsidiary organizations.

## Government and the State
### What is government?

Government - is a general term which can be used to refer to public bodies organizing the political life of the society. Government can also refer to the collective head of the executive branch of power in a polity.
Public policies -
* Public taxation
* Public defense
* Public education
* Public transportation
* Healthcare
* Environment
* Civil rights
* Working conditions
Legislative power -
Executive power -
Judicial power -
Constitution -

### The State

Five characteristics of a state
* Population
* Territory
* Sovereignty
* Government
* Permanence

### Major Political Ideas

Evolutionary Theory -
Social Contract Theory -
Divine Theory -
Meritocracy -

### The Purpose of Government

Form a More Perfect Union -
Establish Justice -
Insure Domestic Tranquility -
Provide for the Common Defense -
Promote the General Welfare -
Secure the Blessings of Liberty -

## History of government

History of government

### Origins of American Government
#### Our Political Beginnings
##### Basic concepts of Government

Ordered government
Limited government
Representative government

##### Landmark English Documents

Magna Carta
Petition of Right
English Bill of Rights

##### English Colonies

Charter
Royal Colonies - New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia
* Council
* Bicameralism
Proprietary colonies - Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware
* Unicameralism
Charter colonies - Connecticut and Rhode Island

#### The Coming of Independence

New England Confederation
Albany Plan of Union
Delegate
Boycott
Repeal
Popular sovereignty
Declaration of Independence

#### Critical Period

Articles of Confederation
Ratification
Presiding Officer

#### Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

Framers of the Constitution -
Virginia Plan -
New Jersey Plan -
Connecticut Compromise -
Three-Fifths Compromise -
Slave Trade Compromise -
Federalists -
Anti-Federalists -
Quorum -

## Forms of government
### Who Can Participate

Democracy -
Dictatorship -
* Autocracy -
* Oligarchy -

### Geographic Distribution of Power

Unitary government -
Federal government -
Confederate government (Confederation) -

### Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Powers

Presidential government -
Parliamentary government -

## Basic Concepts of Democracy
### Foundations

Popular sovereignty Limited government Human equality

### Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

Free enterprise system -
Law of supply and demand -
Mixed economy -

## The Constitution
### Six Basic Principles

Preamble
Articles

#### Basic Principles

Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
* Constitutionalism
* Rule of law
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
* Veto
Judicial review
* Unconstitutional
Federalism

### Formal Amendment
## Legislature

Chambers
Parliament
Parliamentary procedure
Types
Legislator -
Committee member -
Trustee -
Delegate -
Partisan -
Politico -
Senator -
Money