United States Government

Unit 1: Foundations of American Government

Chapter 1: People and Government
Section 2: The Formation of Governments
I.

II.

Government Systems
A. Unitary System
1. Unitary system- gives all key powers to the nation or central
government.
B. Federal System
1. Federal system- divides the powers of government between the
national government and state or provincial governments.
2. United States first formed a confederacy- a loose union of
independent states.
Constitutions and Government
A. Constitution- a plan that provides the rules for government.
1. It sets out ideals that people bound by the constitution believe in
and share.
2. It establishes the basic structure of government and defines the
governments power and duties.
3. Provides the supreme law for the country
B. Constitutional government- government in which a constitution has
authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those
who govern.
C. Incomplete Guides
1. No written constitution by itself can possibly spell out all the laws,
customs, and ideas that grow up around the document itself.
2. A constitution does not always reflect the actual practice of
government in a country.
D. A Statement of Goals
1. Preamble- a statement that sets forth the goals and purposes to be
served by the government.
E. A Framework for Government
1. Main body of a constitution sets out a plan for government.
2. Divided into articles and sections.
F. The Highest Law
1. Provides the supreme law for states.
2. Draws its authority from the people or from a special assembly
chosen by the people to create the constitution.
3. Constitutional law- involves the interpretation and application or
the constitution.
4. Concerns defining the extent and limits of government power and
the rights of citizens.

III.

IV.

Politics and Government

A. Politics- The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of
government
B. Closely related.
C. Seeking Government Benefits
1. People get into politics in order to have an influence in their life.
2. People want benefits.
D. Importance of Politics
1. Conflicts in society are managed.
2. People seek rewards and benefits.
E. Special Interests
1. Government should promote the interests of all the people not the
general welfare.
Governing in a Complex World
A. Major Inequalities Among States
1. Industrialized nations- generally large industries and advanced
technology that provide a more comfortable way of life.
2. Developing nations- are only beginning to develop industrially
B. Growing Interdependence
1. People and nations must interact or depend upon one another,
especially economically and politically.
2. World is affected by small events.
3. Grows because of industrialization.
C. Nonstate International Groups
1. Often use violence to achieve their goals.
2. Aimed at developing economic growth and making profits.
3. Aim to establish an independent state for a particular ethnic or
religious group.