Unit 3: Foundations of American Government

Constitution

The Supreme Law of the Land in the United States

Sets up the structure of our government

Consent

Permission, Assent, Approval

Government

The ruling authority of a nation

Grievances

Complaints

Part of the Declaration of Independence

Rights

Freedoms and privileges a person gets as a citizen

Majority

One more than half

Amendment

A change to the Constitution

Proposal

The act of asking for something

Complex

Complicated

Representative

Someone to make decisions on behalf of the people

Governed

The people who are ruled over

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away

Convention

A formal meeting of a group of people

Minority

Less than half

Ratification

To approve

Structure

How something is built or put together

Preamble

Introduction

Part of the Declaration of Independence

First sentence of the Constitution

Absolute

Always true, no matter what

Natural Rights

Rights of the People

Part of the Declaration of Independence that lists rights and the government's role (to protect rights)

Resolution of Independence

Part of the Declaration of Independence where the colonists declare their independence

Consent of the Governed

Citizens give authority to the government in exchange for the protection of their rights

Limited Government

The government can only do what the people allow it to do

Rule of Law

Everyone is bound by the law

Democracy

The people rule

The people hold the power because they create the government

Representative Government

Electing government officials to make laws and run the government on our behalf

Example of Representative Government

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner makes laws on behalf of all Virginians.

Example of Consent of the Governed

In 2020 we elected Joe Biden to be our president. This means we gave him our permission to be our president for the next 4 years.

Example of Limited Government

The Bill of Rights lists many things the government cannot do and cannot take away (freedom of speech, religion, and press)

Example of Rule of Law

The Constitution allows us to impeach ( fire) presidents, senators & representatives, and judges when they do not follow the law.

Example of Democracy

Creating government is in the hands of the people. We create government by participating in elections.