Founders' Thoughts
on Constitutional Government
(Lesson 1)
on Constitutional Government
(Lesson 1)
A government in which the powers of the ruler or rulers are limited by a constitution.
Constitutional Government
This term refers to the dedication of citizens to the common good, even at the cost of their individual interests.
Civic Virtue
This document signed in 1215 that limited the power of the king and established certain legal rights for English subjects.
Magna Carta
This Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas on natural rights and the social contract influenced the American Founders.
John Locke
This is the idea of the Enlightenment that focused on the belief that individuals are born with rights to life, liberty, and property.
Natural Rights
What did the Founders believe was essential to protect in a constitutional government?
Rights of Individuals
How did classical republicanism influence the Founders’ ideas of civic life?
FIX THIS ONE
It emphasized the importance of common welfare, civic participation, and public responsibility.
What is the significance of the Petition of Right (1628) in American constitutionalism?
Limited the power of the king by asserting that the king could not tax without Parliament's consent or imprison without cause.
This early agreement among Pilgrims to self-govern, it is seen as a foundational step toward democracy in America.
Mayflower Compact
What Enlightenment philosopher influenced the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution?
Baron de Montesquieu
What term refers to the idea that people agree to form a government to protect their natural rights?
Social Contract
What is the difference between natural rights philosophy and classical republicanism?
Natural Rights philosophy emphasizes individual rights, while Classical Republicanism focuses on the common good.
This term refers to citizens voting directly on laws is called this.
Direct Democracy
What document did Thomas Jefferson primarily draft, which outlines the natural rights of man?
Declaration of Independence
What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau mean by the "general will"?
The collective will of the people that represents the common good.
This term refers to the principle of fair laws and equal justice.
Rule of Law
What role did education play in Classical Republican thought?
It was believed that a well-educated citizenry was essential for informed participation in civic life and government.
What principle of government was established by the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution?
The principle of limited government and the sovereignty of Parliament over the monarchy.
This series of essays written to defend the Constitution and explain its principles to the public.
The Federalist Papers
How did the ideas of the Enlightenment challenge traditional political authority?
Challenged the idea of Absolute Monarchy and Divine Right.
This system prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
Checks & Balances
How did the Founders incorporate the ideas of Natural Rights philosophy into the Constitution?
By emphasizing individual rights with the Bill of Rights and limiting government power through Checks & Balances.
How did the development of common law in England influence the American legal system?
Common law emphasized the use of precedents in judicial decisions, a system adopted in the American judiciary.
What are the five purposes of government outlined in the Preamble?
Establish Justice, Insure Domestic Tranquility, Provide for the Common Defense, Promote the General Welfare, and Secure the Blessings of Liberty
This Enlightenment Thinker had the idea that a strong government was necessary to prevent anarchy influenced the Founders’ emphasis on a balanced government structure.
Thomas Hobbes