Political Philosophers
This Greek philosopher believed the best government works for the common good.
Who is Aristotle?
In this system, power is shared between national and state governments.
👉 What is a federal system?
This document limited the power of the king and established rule of law.
👉 What is the Magna Carta?
This branch makes the laws.
👉 What is the legislative branch?
These are rights people are born with according to John Locke.
👉 What are natural rights?
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness or can be property in some cases.
This philosopher believed people are born with natural rights like life and liberty.
Who is John Locke?
In this system, states hold most of the power and the national government is weak.
👉 What is a confederal system?
This document explained why the American colonies separated from Britain.
👉 What is the Declaration of Independence?
This branch enforces the laws and is led by the President.
👉 What is the executive branch?
This idea means everyone, including leaders, must follow the law.
Rule of law
He believed people are naturally selfish and need a strong government to keep order.
👉 Who is Thomas Hobbes?
In this system, the national government holds most of the power.
👉 What is a unitary system?
This was the first plan of government in the United States.
👉 What are the Articles of Confederation?
This branch interprets laws and decides if they follow the Constitution.
👉 What is the judicial branch?
These governments are run by Native American tribes and govern themselves.
👉 What are tribal governments?
This thinker believed government power should be divided into branches.
👉 Who is Montesquieu?
This is one purpose of government:
👉 What is protecting people’s rights?to protect rights and maintain order.
This is the supreme law of the land today.
👉 What is the Constitution?
This Supreme Court case established judicial review.
(the name of the Case)
👉 What is Marbury v. Madison?
These groups try to influence public policy through lobbying and advertising.
👉 What are interest groups?
This philosopher believed in a social contract where government reflects the will of the people.
👉 Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
This system was created by the _____________________ and proved too weak to govern the country so it was ammended and Constitution was created.
What is the Articles of Confederation?
This document includes John Locke’s idea that government exists to protect natural rights.
👉 What is the Declaration of Independence?
This system allows each branch to limit the power of the others.
👉 What are checks and balances?
This system prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
👉 What are checks and balances?