Chapter 1 Founding Principles of Democracy

AP Government and

Natural Rights

People are born with the natural right to life, liberty, and property that are given to them by the creator.

Popular Sovereignty

People had governmental power not monarchs.

Social Contract

People gave certain rights to the government so the government can protect their other rights. If a government violated the understood compact, then the people had the right to revolt.

Thomas Hobbes

Argued that because humans were inherently bad they needed to enter into a social contract with an absolute sovereign to maintain order.

John Lock

Argued that people had god given rights and people must consent to being governed.

Jean-Jacques Roussea

Argued for popular sovereignty.

Baron de Montesquieu

Outlined a republic government with limited and defined power and 3 separate branches.

Republicanism

Citizens elect leaders for a time period; the leaders make and execute laws in public interest.

The legislative branch

Can tax, borrow money, raise an army, and regulate commerce.

The executive branch

carries out the law and protects the land through various departments.

The judicial branch

established the Supreme Court and Congress’s power to make inferior courts.

U.S. Representative Republic

Popular Election every 2 years for house of representatives. State legislators elected senators and electors.