Influences on our Political Heritage
This big idea in the Constitution discusses how people can make decisions on how their government should work.
What is Self Government?
This enlightenment idea discusses how governments only exist because people agree to be governed, and if leaders abuse their power, the people have the right to change or replace them.
What is a social contract?
The introduction to this document which states the purpose of the document. It explained why people wanted to dissolve their government.
What is the preamble to the Declaration of Independence?
The power of the national government is divided among these 3 branches.
What are the executive, legislative and judicial branch?
The division of power between a central government and state governments
What is federalism?
This big idea of the Constitution discusses how people have the right to fair and reasonable laws. Officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and need to treat all people in the same way.
What is due process?
This enlightenment thinker believed in the separation of powers with each branch limiting each other through the process of checks and balances.
Who is Montesquieu?
The major issue with the Articles of Confederation.
What is it gave most of the power to the states?
This group believed in a strong national government to "create a more perfect union" and did not think a Bill of Rights was necessary.
Who are the Federalists?
Powers that are reserved for the states.
What are reserved powers?
After the Glorious Revolution, this was government document was created to limit the monarchy and protect Parliament's powers and citizens' rights.
What is the English Bill of Rights?
This enlightenment thinker believed that people agreed to give up some of their freedoms for protection from a strong government, like a monarchy?
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
This compromise was created during the convention and proposed a legislative branch with two parts, giving all states equal representation.
What is the Connecticut Compromise?
The authors of the Federalist Papers who worked to help defend the Constitution.
Who are James Madison & Alexander Hamilton?
Federal laws passed by Congress are supreme, or superior, to state laws. Federal law wins if they contradict.
What is the supremacy clause?
This pamphlet written by Thomas Paine spread ideas of self-government and individual rights which helped to support the American Revolution.
What is Common Sense?
This enlightenment thinker believed that people are born with natural rights (life, liberty, property) which cannot be taken away by a ruler. Governments exist to protect these rights and people have the power to revolt.
Who is John Locke?
This system was created during the convention as a way to settle the issue over how to elect a president.
What is the Electoral College?
What is to protect individual rights?
Powers that both the national and state government share at the same time.
What are concurrent powers?
This legal principle protected individuals from being jailed unfairly by requiring a fair trail before imprisonment.
What is Habeas Corpus?
This enlightenment thinker believed that people are naturally free but give up some of that freedom to be protected by a government
Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
This event was proof that the national government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to maintain order.
What is Shay's Rebellion?
This only gives the national government certain listed powers. Anything not listed is reserved for the states or the people.
What are limited powers (enumerated powers)?
Powers not written word-for-word but are reasonably suggested by the expressed powers.
What are implied powers?