THE ORIGINS OF OUR GOVERNMENT

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THE ORIGINS OF OUR GOVERNMENT
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Thomas Hobbes

• Wrote Leviathan
• Before GOV people lived in a state of nature
  (chaos)
• Weak overcome by strong
• Made GOV to protect themselves

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DIVINE RIGHT THEORY

• The idea that God created the state and the
  ruler of said state is doing the will of God.
  Usually Royalty inherited by blood.

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FORCE THEORY

• An individual or small group takes power by
  force over a population of people.

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JOHN LOCKE

• Wrote
• Treatises on Government
• People must give their
• consent to be ruled.
• Natural Rights
• Life, Liberty and Property

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THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
GOVERNMENT ONLY EXISTS TO PROTECT NATURAL RIGHTS
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JEAN ROUSSEAU

• People were born free
• Purpose of GOV is to maintain that freedom

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SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

• The idea that individuals give up whatever
  freedom is needed in order to create a state that
  provides safety and well-being.

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EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

• Government developed as families joined to form
  clans, which grew into tribes regulated by older
  males

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THE BARON de Montesquieu

• First to theorize the separation of powers
• Said no one person should make law, enforce law,
  and interpret law

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GREECE

• DIRECT DEMOCRACY
• EQUALITY IN VOTING

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ROME

• REPRESENTATIVE
• DEMOCRACY

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ENGLAND

• MAGNA CARTA
• CANNOT TAKE AWAY NATURAL RIGHTS WITHOUT DUE
  PROCESS OF LAW!
• ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS
• Established the symbolic monarch
• PARLIAMENT
• House of Commons, House of Lords

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JUDICIAL INFLUENCE

• ENGLISH COMMON LAW
• Legal Standard of Precedent
• Judges only selected cases that hadnt been
  decided before
• Precedent, or preceding law decided similar cases