principles and documents

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.

Rule of Law

Everyone must obey the law, including government officials.

Principle

A basic truth or fundamental law.

Majority Rule

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

Separation of Powers

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

Republicanism (Representative Democracy)

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

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.

Fundamental

Serving as a foundation or source of origin; everything is built from this.

Limited Government

The government is not all-powerful and may do only those things the people have given it the power to do.

Direct Democracy

Every citizen votes directly on every issue. Direct democracy only works with a smaller group of people, like a town hall meeting or ancient Greece.

Federalism

The division of power between state and national government .