FOAG - Origins of Government Lesson
Origins of Government Lesson
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived from 384-322 BCE, was one of the first people to study government. His focus was on the proper function of government. He came up with the idea of a state, which is derived from the term city-state or polis (origin of the term politics and political science, which means political unit). A state is a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government.
So, if this is true, why are places like Georgia and Alabama called states? States are required to abide by the power and authority of the national government, so they don't really fit the definition of a state, according to Aristotle. When the United States was originally formed, each state was considered independent, or a better description would be part of a confederacy, which is a loose union of independent states. There wasn't a strong central government, so each state had the freedom to govern itself regarding taxes, coining money, and involvement in foreign affairs. When the Constitution was written and the powers of the states changed, they were still called states, but they no longer fit the actual definition of a state. Most people today think of true states (states that fit Aristotle’s definition above) as countries.
How Did the First States and their Governments Form?
There are many theories that explain how the first states formed or came into existence.
- Evolutionary Theory: Some historians believe that the government originated with a family. The head of the family became the head of the government. As families grew larger and extended families were created, they needed more organization. As a result, small governments formed.
- Force Theory: Smaller groups of people were forced to submit to a ruling authority based on their own personal needs. In ancient times, these needs included food, shelter, and protection.
- Divine Right Theory: The state was created or formed by the power of god or the gods. The ruler had the " divine right to rule" directly from the will of God.
- Social Contract Theory: In the 1600s, people began to challenge the authority of "divine right". Thomas Hobbes proposed the idea of the Social Contract. Hobbes said that society was cruel and dangerous. In his book Leviathan, he argues that people should surrender their power and authority to leaders and, in return, be protected. Hobbes believed that people do not have the right to take power away from their leaders. John Locke took the idea of a “social contract” a step further and said that people had "natural rights" or the right to "life, liberty, and property." The people granted authority to their leaders. If the government did not fulfill their responsibility to protect these natural rights, then the people had the right to rebel against the government.
| Types of Government | Explanation | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Monarchy | Any system of government in which the power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual. | A king, queen or emperor exercises supreme power over the government. These rulers inherit their positions. Many countries today have Constitutional Monarchies where the monarch's power is limited by a constitution or by certain laws. |
| Totalitarianism/Dictatorship | Single leader or small group of elite individuals holds power. | The ideas of a single leader are glorified, and the government seeks to control all aspects of political, social, and economic life. |
| Democracy | Any system of government which is ruled by the people. |
Direct Democracy: The people actually govern themselves. They vote on all issues individually and make all decisions as a large group. This is virtually the same idea as a republic. Representative Democracy: The people elect representatives and give them the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government. |
| Theocracy | The government has unlimited power and political leaders are also religious leaders. | Religious ideas influence all aspects of government. Laws follow a particular religion or doctrine. |
| Oligarchy | A small group of elite individuals hold authority or power. | Many communist countries are considered to be oligarchies. The Communist Party controls the government and makes all decisions about social and economic issues. |
Practice your vocabulary words before completing the vocabulary quiz.
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