PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT is the institution that allows a society to make and enforce public policies.  Governments have three basic types of power: to make laws (legislative), enforce laws (executive) and interpret laws (judicial).  A government’s main PURPOSES are to:
maintain order  (ex - 
protect citizens  (ex - 
provide services  (ex - 
make economic decisions  (ex -


Directions:  Use THIS reading on Hobbes and Locke to answer the following 6 questions and complete the social contracts.

1.  Why did Hobbes believe that it wouldn’t work for human beings to live in a state of nature? 


2.  The Social Contract Theory states that a government agrees to help protect its citizens, and in exchange it is expected that citizens will give up some of their freedoms.  What did Hobbes believe about human beings’ rights in a social contract with their government?


3.  What type of government did Hobbes think was best for societies?


4.  How did Locke believe human beings earned their natural rights?


5.  What did Locke believe about the relationship between a government and the people in his idea of a social contract?


6.  What did Locke believe people have the right to do if their government isn’t upholding their part of the social contract? 




Describe the social contract according to Thomas Hobbes:
SOCIAL CONTRACT

The government will …. 


The people will ….


The people do NOT have the right to ...


Signed, 
  Thomas Hobbes


Describe the social contract according to John Locke:
SOCIAL CONTRACT

The government will ….


The people will ….


The people have the right to ...


Signed, 
  John Locke













LIMITS TO GOVERNMENT POWER 

Throughout history, there have been governments that had too much power and abused it. They limited people’s freedom, mistreated people, and even committed mass murders. In some places it still happens. Government isn’t evil—but the people who run governments need to be kept in check so they can’t abuse their power. There are several ways to limit government power.

A CONSTITUTION is the rulebook for a country’s government. A constitution explains the powers the government has, how a country’s laws are made, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Most modern countries have written constitutions. 

Name TWO rights given to U.S. citizens in the U.S. Constitution:


The RULE OF LAW means laws are fair, they’re enforced, and _______________________                      is above the law.  When a country has the rule of law, everyone must follow it—the government, and its leaders.  Citizens feel secure that the gov. can’t just do what it wants, and there are procedures in place to make sure the law is enforced. 

    In a country that limits the power of the government with the rule of law, is the very top leader bound to the laws? 	    YES		NO  


SEPARATION OF POWER is dividing power among several branches of government. By dividing up the power, a country can make sure that no one person or part of government gets too much control. Separation of power works because each branch of government is able to “check,” or limit, what the other branches can do. 

What are the branches of government in the United States system? 

Name an example of checks and balances in our government.


The CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED means that the citizens of a country give their permission to be governed by the country’s government.  Citizens can use their ‘voice’ for change. 

     5.      What is an example of how citizens in the U.S. “give consent to the governed”?


 RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY:  In a system with consent of the governed, limiting government also means limiting the power of the majority.  With voting, the majority rules.  It would be possible for the majority to treat a minority group unfairly.  Protecting the rights of the minority means protecting the rights of small or unpopular groups and fair treatment, regardless of what the majority believes.

6.     What’s an example of how rights of a minority population are protected in the U.S.?


TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
Directions:  Use THIS reading to answer the following 9 questions.

1.  Insert a symbol OR type a word/phrase to summarize a monarchy:


2.  What’s the difference between a constitutional monarchy and an absolute monarchy?


3.  State TWO characteristics of a dictatorship:


4.  Which one of the three other terms related to autocratic governments is the MOST RESTRICTIVE type?


5.  Who has the power in a democracy?


6.  What's the difference between a direct democracy and an indirect democracy (or representative democracy or republic)? 


7.  Insert a symbol OR type a word/phrase to summarize a theocracy:


8.  Insert a symbol OR type a word/phrase to summarize an oligarchy:


9.  An aristocracy is an example of an oligarchy, and historically, aristocrats owned a lot of what?


10. What are THREE types of government likely to have less (or no) limits to government?


11. What are TWO types of government that Machiavelli would have supported?


12. What purpose of government would be the most important to the leader of a totalitarian government?  (highlight one)

		Maintain order		Provide services		Protect citizens


13. What type of government would John Locke most likely support?