how democratic ideals are reflected in the constitution

• main ideal: limited government (influenced by the enlightenment)

• enlightenment ideas:

  1. natural rights: people are born with certain unalienable rights that cannot be taken away

     1. think: john locke and thomas hobbes

  2. popular sovereignty/social contract: governments power comes from the consent of the governed (pop. sov). they consent in order to protect their rights -- the state serves the people (social contract)

     1. think: rousseau

  3. republicanism: people elect leaders to represent them and create laws for the good of the people

     1. think: montesquieu (his book "the spirit of laws") - also advocated for spreading power (the 3 branches)

• the constitution

  • provides the blueprint for separation of powers and republicanism

  • republicanism in practice

    • the framers created a representative republic: elected officials would legislate on behalf of the people

    • they feared pure democracy would lead to mob rule

  • james madison took the lead on writing the governing documents and by doing so laid the foundations of republicanism