Types of Government
Enlightenment Thinkers
Principles
Founding Documents
Mixed Bag
100

In this type of government, representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the people.

Representative Democracy

100

People agree to give up some freedoms and the government agrees to protect the people’s rights in return.

What is the social contract
100

Citizens give authority to the government in exchange for the protection of their rights.

Consent of the governed 

100

This document guaranteed the rights of Englishmen to Virginia colonists.

The Charters of the Virginia Company of London

100

This Enlightenment thinker believed that people have the right to speak freely, and this right should be defended by everyone

Who is Voltaire

200

The monarch is head of state and an elected body (parliament) is head of government.

Constitutional Monarchy

200

This thinker believed in natural rights...life , liberty and the right to own property. 

Who is John Locke

200

Government is not all-powerful and may do only those things the people have given it the power to do.

Limited government

200

This document established the principle that no one is above the law, not even the king.

What is the Magna Carta?

200

Written by George Mason and served as the basis for the United States Bill of Rights.

What is the VA Declaration of Rights

300

One person or group of people make decisions in government.

Dictatorship

300

This thinker believed that the branches of government should be separate, so that not one part of government becomes too powerful. 

Who is Baron de Montesquieu

300

Everyone, including government officials, must follow the law.

Rule of Law

300

This document established the principle of separation of church and state and influenced the First Amendment.

The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

300

In this system of government, the people rule.

Democracy

400

The monarch is both head of state and head of government, and makes all decisions in government.

Absolute Monarchy

400

The Enlightenment thinkers began to use this instead of faith to question the world around them at the time. 

What is reason & logic. 

400

In a democratic system of government, the people rule.

Democracy

400

This document states that all people are equal under the law and that all people of inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Declaration of Independence

400

This document establishes the structure of the United States government

The Constitution

500

All citizens vote on everything.

Direct democracy

500

This thinker believed that legislative power belonged to the people. 

Who is Jean Jacques Rousseau

500

In a representative system of government, the people elect public office holders to make laws and conduct government on the people's behalf.

Representative government

500

Our nation's first constitution and gave more power to the state governments than national government.

The Articles of Confederation

500

These are rights that cannot be taken away

Unalienable rights. Life , liberty and the right to own property. 

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