Branches of Government
Declaration of Independence
Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
Preamble of Constitution
Principles of Government
100
This is the system that keeps each branch in order making sure everything is balanced.
What is the system of checks and balances?
100
This is who wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
100
This weakness resulted in the National Government not being able to collect money and pay for an army or navy.
What is the power to tax?
100
This goal means that government is focused on the public interest and that every state and individual can benefit from what the government can provide.
What is promote the general welfare?
100
This principle means the people's right to rule and the power of government lies with the people. An example of this principle are elections when the people vote to choose their leaders.
What is popular sovereignty?
200
This branch consists of the Senate and House of Representatives (Congress) and makes laws, has the power to declare war, and also to impeach or fire the president.
What is the legislative?
200
This is the time period that many of ideas that were put into the Declaration of Independence were taken from.
What is the Enlightenment Period?
200
This weakness meant laws followed in one state did not have to be followed in others.
What is no national court system?
200
This goal means by having a government focused on the public interest, current and future generations will have a government that protects liberty and freedom.
What is secure the blessings of liberty?
200
This principle prevents any one person or group from gaining too much power and this is why in the Constitution the three branches of government were created.
What is separation of powers?
300
This branch is headed by the President, controls the army, and can appoint Supreme Court judges.
What is the executive?
300
This King of England was one of the main reasons why the colonists wanted to declare independence from England.
Who is King George III?
300
This weakness resulted in there being no chief executive who could manage the government, so Americans had no person to look to in order to know what was right.
What is no central leadership?
300
This goal means that the purpose of the Constitution was to create an even better government.
What is to form a more perfect union?
300
This principle means that the law applies to everyone and no one is above the law including government officials.
What is rule of law?
400
This branch interprets the laws and is headed by the Supreme Court and declare laws unconstitutional.
What is the judicial?
400
This concept written into the Declaration of Independence and taken from the Enlightenment Period, states that human beings are born with certain rights such as life and freedom.
What is natural law or rights?
400
This weakness resulted in states not having to follow laws because they couldn't be enforced or carried out.
What is no power to enforce laws?
400
This goal means that the government places the law higher than any individual , including government officials.
What is to establish justice?
400
This principle means that government can do only what the people allow it to do.
What is limited government?
500
What if a law was proposed that stated that you would no longer be allowed to wear hats? Who would have created this law? Who should decide whether or not to allow this? (think veto…) Who could call this unconstitutional?
What is the legislative, executive, and judicial?
500
This concept or idea also taken from the Enlightenment Period states that there is a contract or agreement between the people and the government.
What is the social contract?
500
This type of decision meaning all 13 colonies had to agree was needed in order for any changes to be made.
What is a unanimous decision?
500
This goal means that government will protect citizens from conflict in the country and make sure that states do not go to war with each other.
What is ensure domestic tranquility?
500
Examples of this principle are freedom of religion, speech, and the right to bear arms.
What is limited government?