Unit 3: Sources, Fundamental Political Principles, & Early Documents

Definition: rule of law

The government and those who govern are bound by the law. They must enforce it on all and are subject to it as well.

Definition: limited government

The government is not all powerful and can do only those things that the people have allowed it to do.

Definition: republicanism

People elect public officeholders to make laws and conduct government on their behalf.

Example of Representative Government

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

Example of Popular Sovereignty

We elected Glenn Youngkin to be our governor and will have another election for a new governor.

Example of Limited Government

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

Impeach

To formally charge a public official with misconduct in office

Magna Carta

This made the King John I of England obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom. This creates rule of law.

Definition: constitution

A written plan of government

English Common Law

Traditional English laws based on court decisions, which influenced American ideas like trial by jury.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

Gave English settlers the right to form a colony in Virginia and guaranteed them the same rights as English citizens.

Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom

Creates the separation of church and state and served as a model for the 1st Amendment.

Definition: federalism

A system in which the national government shares power with lower levels of government

Definition: separation of powers

The government is divided into three branches. Each branch has its own set of powers.

Definition: checks and balances

A system that prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful

Definition: popular sovereignty

The idea that leaders get their power from the people through voting.

Translation of "popular sovereignty"

"people rule"

Example of checks and balances

the President can veto bills from Congress, but Congress can override the veto to make a law without him.

The three branches of government

Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), & Judicial (Supreme Court)

Definition: primary source

A first-hand, original account or document created at the time of an event by someone who experienced it directly.

Examples of primary sources

Diaries, letters, official government charters, speeches, and original legal documents.

Definition: secondary source

An account that analyzes, summarizes, or interprets historical evidence, created by someone who did not experience the event firsthand.

Examples of secondary sources

History textbooks, biographies, academic review articles, and encyclopedias.