Features of a State
These are the four essential features of a state
What are population, territory, sovereignty, and government?
In this theory, the state developed naturally out of the early family structure.
What is the Evolutionary Theory?
A government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed, elite group
What is an oligarchy?
This Greek philosopher was one of the first students of government and is known as the "Father of Political Science"
Who is Aristotle?
Penned primarily by Thomas Jefferson, its main purpose was to explain why the colonies were separating from Britain.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This feature of a state involves its people sharing similar beliefs to establish a more stable government.
What is population (or consensus)?
This theory claims that one person or a small group took control of an area and forced all within it to submit to their rule.
What is the Force Theory?
This is the type of democracy, used by the U.S., where citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.
What is a representative democracy?
This philosopher wrote "The Social Contract" and believed people were born good but corrupted by society.
Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
This was the first constitution or "law of the land" for the United States
What were the Articles of Confederation?
This key characteristic means a state has supreme and absolute authority within its own boundaries.
What is sovereignty?
This theory held that God created the state and gave those of royal birth the right to rule
What is the Divine Right Theory?
A system where all key governmental powers are held by a single, central agency rather than being divided among different levels.
What is a unitary system?
This philosopher wrote "Leviathan" and argued for a strong, absolute ruler to control humanity's selfish and cruel nature.
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
The government under the Articles was unicameral, meaning it only had this one branch.
What is a legislative branch (Congress)?
Purchase, negotiation, and war are three ways a state can do this.
What is expand its territory?
This theory argues that people voluntarily gave up power to the state in exchange for its protection and the maintenance of order.
What is the Social Contract Theory?
The key difference between a ruler with unlimited power and one whose power is limited by a plan for government.
What is the difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy?
This French philosopher's writing, "The Spirit of the Laws," promoted the idea of a separation of powers into three branches of government
Who is Baron de Montesquieu?
Lacking the power to tax and having no executive to enforce laws were major reasons this document was considered this.
Why were the Articles of Confederation too weak?
This feature is the institution that allows a state to perform all its essential functions, like maintaining order and providing public services.
What is government?
These are the four major theories on the origin of the state
What are the Evolutionary, Force, Divine Right, and Social Contract theories?
In this democratic system, the executive leader is chosen by and is also a member of the legislative branch.
What is a parliamentary system?
This English philosopher's "Two Treatises of Government" argued that people are born with natural rights like life, liberty, and property.
Who is John Locke?
This rebellion by Massachusetts farmers clearly demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
What was Shays' Rebellion?