Unit 1: Principles and documents

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to change or reject things that other branches do to stop them from getting too much power.

Principle

A basic truth or fundamental law.

Direct democracy

Every citizen votes directly on every issue.

separation of powers

Dividing government into branches with different powers so that no one branch becomes too powerful.

Rule of law

Everyone must obey the law, including government officials.

Limited Government

The government can only do the things that people give it the power to do. Government’s power is not unlimited!

Majority Rule

The government must do what the majority of people vote for.

Fundamental

Serving as foundation or source or origin/ Something everything else is built from.

Popular Sovereignty ( consent of the governed)

All power in government comes from the permission of the people; the people give power and authority to the government ,in return for protection of their rights.

Republicanism( Representative Democracy)

A government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions, laws, and run the government for them( on their behalf)

Democracy

A democracy is a system of government where the people rule.

Federalism

This division of power between state and national government

Custom

Rules or behavior

Precedent

Decisions made in the past that are used to guide present and future decisions.

Constitution

A basic set of principles, laws, and rules for a country or group.

Grievances

A complaint or problem

Unalienable

Something that cannot be taken away

Declaration

A clear statement or announcement

Statue

A law

Charter

A document that says what people can and cannot do

Affirm

To say something is a fact

Admendment

A change( example changes in the constitution)

Central government

A government that makes decisions for the whole country or nation.

Independence

freedom

English common law

• Originally England had no written laws. There was no Constitution, so the rules they chose to live by were called English common law.

• There are to parts to English common law Custom and precedent

  • England created certain custom or rules of behavior, and those customs had the force of law

    • Precedent is a previous legal decision that serves as a guide

Magna Carta

• Gave all English people basic rights and freedoms( at first only noblemen)

  • Established the rule of law, the idea that everyone, even the king, must follow the laws

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

Guaranteed colonists would have the same rights as English citizens.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

model for the Bill of Rights in the Constitution

Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom

• Stated freedom of religious beliefs and opinions

  • Directly influenced the religion clause in the First amendment.

Declaration of Independence

• Stated a long list of grievances against the King of Great Britain

• declared colonies ar free from Great Britain

  • affirmed the ideas that people had (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)

    • established the idea that all men(people) are created equal

Articles fo Confederation

• established the first form of national government for the independent states

• maintained that the major powers were controlled by the individual states

• central(national) government was set up to be pretty weak

• no power to tax, to enforce laws

• led to the writing of the U.S. Constitution