AP Gov 1.1

Limited Government

• A political principle that restricts government power, ensuring that individual rights are protected and that government authority is not absolute.

• Influenced by the Enlightenment

Three Enlightenment Ideas in Limited Government

1. Natural Rights

2. Social Contract/Popular Soverntiy

3. Separation of Powers

Natural Rights

The belief that individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property that governments must respect.

John Locke: emphasized that these rights are not granted by government but are fundamental to human existence.

Popular Sovereignty/Social Contract

The principle that the authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who may alter or abolish it if it fails to serve their interests.

Popular Sovereignty VS. Social Contract

Popular Sovereignty= The Power the people hold

Social Contract: Power to give some power over to the government (Jean-Jaques Rosseau)

Republicanism

People elect their own leaders:

• The 3 branches

• Baron de Montesquieu ideas

• IS NOT THE SAME AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

Declaration of Dependence

Outlined the official reason for the colonies to break from the British empire

• John Locke & Natural Rights

Constitution

Blueprint for the USA government

• Created after the articles of confederation by the grand committee

• Separation of powers & republicanism

Representative Republic

People would vote office representatives, and they would legislate on their behalf

• USA IS NOT A STRICT DEMOCRACY BY DEFINITION

State of Nature

Comes before any government