Know definitions of...
natural rights
the right to life, liberty, and property protected by a social contract
who are the founders and why are they important?
the leaders of the American colonies who helped establish the United States?
What does the judicial branch do?
interpret laws
natural law
The rights of the people are based on natural law. This means that there is an unchanging set of laws that govern human relations.
What is the purpose of governmnet according to the Founders?
to protect our natural rights
civic virtue
When citizens set aside their own self-interests in favor of the common good of their community
How do checks and balances work to prevent abuse against the government?
Powers are shared between branches of government, and each branch is given methods to check the use of powers by the other branches
What does the legislative branch do?
makes laws
treason
the betrayal of ones country
What is diplomacy and how did it help the colonists during the American revolution?
Diplomacy is the practice of carrying on formal relationships with other governments of other countries. In 1778, Franklin secured formal treaties between France and the United States, so the new alliance ensured the assistance of the french army and navy - resulting in an American victory at saratoga.
social contract
he or she gives up the absolute right he or she wishes to do
How does separation of powers work to prevent the abuse of power by the government?
They divide the powers of government among different branches. Doing so prevents any one person or group from having all power.
What is the constitutional government, and what does it include?
A constitutional government means that there are limits on the powers of a person or group running the government.
legislative supremecy
the majorotu pf the states et up governments in which most of the power was given to the legislature
How was the state government set up after the American revolution?
Basic ideas included in state constitutions - natural rights and higher law (the purpose of government is to protect the rights of citizens life, liberty, and property), social contract, popular soveirgnty, representation, separation of powers, checks and balances, and legislative supremacy
higher law
a set of laws that establishes and limits the power of government
What are the three branches of government?
the executive branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch.
What is the magna carta and why is it important?
The manga carta is an egreeement signed in 1215 that says government should be based on a contract between the ruler and people to be ruled, and government and the governed must obey the law.
Polular soverignty
How was the national government set up after the American Revolution?
the national government was weak, but it was responsible for successfully waged the war for independence against great britain, negotiated the Treaty of Paris, provided that each state recognize the laws of other states, and passed the Northwest Oridnance which gave people in the Northwestern lands the right to organize their own government
private domain
a part of your life that is not the business of government
What does the executive branch do?
enforces laws
What is the declaration of independance and why is it important?
written by Thomas Jefferson, the declaration of independence was as statement to Great Britiain that the colonies were now free and independent states. It is organized by idels (beliefs), arguments (why we broke away), complaints (why we don't like the king), and conclusion. It contains certain basic rights, fundamental principles, and natural rights
representative governemnt
where representatives are elected to their colonial legislatures
What is the difference between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution?
The Articles of confederation created our first national government in 1777. The Articles gave each state one vote in Congress and it left most of its powers with the states and the national government had little power over the states. The constitution has the House of Representative and Senate.