POLI 2051 Lecture : 2051 Lecture Notes
Document Summary
It arises from man"s imperfections; if men were angles, no government would be necessary. Government- the legitimate use of force using imprisonment and section to control humans within boundaries. Or formally established way of making and carrying our political decisions. Politics- the competition to shape government"s impact on society"s problems and goals. Because in the long run we benefit from it. Nature would take over if we didn"t have a government. Social contract- an agreement between the government and the governed. The people agree to give up some of their liberties and exchange the government guarantees to protect their natural rights. If the government oversteps it"s the people"s right to replace that government with another. The contract is derived from the assumption that the government is based on the consent of the governed. Natural rights- life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and property. If a street forms a neighborhood watch committee is an example of a broken social contract.
