American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU

American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU.. natrual rights Life, Liberty, and Property John Locke 17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property. State of Nature Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live in "complete" freedom and general equality. Due Process involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly. Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can be exercised over the individual, making the power differential between the two more fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality Social Contract A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules. Thomas Hobbes () One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes Hobbes argues that society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us. Labor Movement the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by Constitution A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society Bill of Rights The first ten amendments to the Constitution Declaration of Independence the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain Thomas Jefferson Wrote the Declaration of Independence Shays's Rebellion () which almost resulted in potential mob rule, suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that maybe individual liberty was going too far Articles of Confederation A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War. Federalist no. 51 Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group. First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Second Amendment Right to keep and bear arms Third Amendment The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner Forth Amendmen