Baron De Montesquieu - ANSWER View "separation of power"
Founding Fathers used his views when writing the Constitution.
He described the separation of political power among a legislature, an executive,
and a judiciary
John Locke - ANSWER He wrote that government is morally obligated to serve
people, namely by protecting their natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
Think-Declaration of Independence
John Locke "Social Contract" - ANSWER A social contract is the belief that the state
only exists to serve the will of the people.
He believed when government violates individual rights, people were obligated to
rebel.
Think - Declaration of Independence/American Revolution
Magna Carta (1215) - ANSWER First document to limit the powers of the king -
signed in 1215.
Citizens could not be deprived of life, liberty or property without a lawful judgment of
their peers or by law of the land.
Represented by the fifth amendment.
English Bill of Rights (1689) - ANSWER Established freedom from taxation without
representation, outlawed cruel and unusual punishment, guaranteed the right to bear
arms, and many other rights.
Many of these same rights are included in the U.S. Constitution.
Mayflower Compact (1620) - ANSWER First document to establish self-government
in the colonies.
Signed before the passengers left the ship, The Mayflower, to settle in Plymouth
Colony.
Common Sense (Thomas Paine) - ANSWER Pamphlet encouraging colonists to
demand their rights as citizens and support independence for the colonies.
Ideas are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.
Self-Government - ANSWER Government or control of a country by its own
members rather than by members of a different country.
Declaration of Independence - ANSWER Statement of American ideals -role of
government is to protect their natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) -
adopted July 4, 1776.
Also listed grievances against the king. Colonists were angry over being taxed
without their consent (no taxation without representation).
,Assent - ANSWER Official approval or agreement
Tyranny - ANSWER Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
Shay's Rebellion (1787) - ANSWER Protests by Massachusetts farmers over tax
collections and judgments for debt. State militia crushed the rebels.
Alarmed politicians - cited as a reason to revise or replace the Articles of
Confederation.
Articles of Confederation - ANSWER First form of government for America.
Many Weaknesses:
Only had a Congress where 9 out of the 13 states had to agree.
No executive or judicial branch (power to enforce or interpret laws).
States had the majority of the power.
Country in debt - no way to raise money.
Preamble to the Constitution - ANSWER Introduction to the U.S. Constitution,
establishing the goals and purposes of government.
"We the People" = government depends on the people for its power and exists to
serve them.
Sets up the six goals of government.
Constitutional Government - ANSWER Any government whose authority and
construction are defined by a constitution.
Separation of Powers - ANSWER Powers of government are divided among three
branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
Limits the power of government.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure liberty.
Checks and Balances - ANSWER Each governmental branch has powers to limit
(check) the other branches.
Keeps the balance of power relatively equal between the branches.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure liberty.
Federalists - ANSWER Supporters of the Constitution who believe a strong national
government is needed to keep the country united.
Published the Federalist Papers to gain support for the Constitution.
Anti-
Federalists - ANSWER Feared a strong federal government as created by the
Constitution.
, Did not believe it would protect states' rights nor people's freedom.
As the Constitution is ratified, they push for a "Bill of Rights" to protect individual
liberties.
Bill of Rights - ANSWER First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution - details the
specific freedoms that belong to each American citizen.
Rule of Law - ANSWER No one is above the law.
Foundation of liberty in the United States and it protects us from tyranny;
Constitution = limited government.
Civil Law - ANSWER Group of laws that refer to disputes among people or
organizations.
Criminal Law - ANSWER Group of laws that define what acts/activities are crimes.
Describes how a person accused of a crime should be tried in court and how crimes
should be punished.
Constitutional Law - ANSWER Based on the Constitution and on Supreme Court
decisions interpreting the Constitution
Statutory Law - ANSWER Laws that are passed by a law-making body (such as
Congress).
Most criminal and many civil laws are also these types of laws.
Military Law - ANSWER Governs the behavior of men and women in all branches of
the U.S. armed forces.
Common Law - ANSWER Type of law that develops from judges previous decisions
and is followed in situations not covered by statutory law.
Sometimes, also called case law.
Juvenile Law - ANSWER An area of the law that deals with the actions and well-
being of persons who are not yet adults.
Citizenship - ANSWER As defined by the 14th Amendment: all who are born or
naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and of the state
they reside in.
Naturalization - ANSWER Legal process through which immigrants become U.S.
citizens.
Must be at least 18 years old, have a background check showing "good moral
character", be fingerprinted, and pass tests on civics, U.S. history, and English
Founding Fathers used his views when writing the Constitution.
He described the separation of political power among a legislature, an executive,
and a judiciary
John Locke - ANSWER He wrote that government is morally obligated to serve
people, namely by protecting their natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
Think-Declaration of Independence
John Locke "Social Contract" - ANSWER A social contract is the belief that the state
only exists to serve the will of the people.
He believed when government violates individual rights, people were obligated to
rebel.
Think - Declaration of Independence/American Revolution
Magna Carta (1215) - ANSWER First document to limit the powers of the king -
signed in 1215.
Citizens could not be deprived of life, liberty or property without a lawful judgment of
their peers or by law of the land.
Represented by the fifth amendment.
English Bill of Rights (1689) - ANSWER Established freedom from taxation without
representation, outlawed cruel and unusual punishment, guaranteed the right to bear
arms, and many other rights.
Many of these same rights are included in the U.S. Constitution.
Mayflower Compact (1620) - ANSWER First document to establish self-government
in the colonies.
Signed before the passengers left the ship, The Mayflower, to settle in Plymouth
Colony.
Common Sense (Thomas Paine) - ANSWER Pamphlet encouraging colonists to
demand their rights as citizens and support independence for the colonies.
Ideas are echoed in the Declaration of Independence.
Self-Government - ANSWER Government or control of a country by its own
members rather than by members of a different country.
Declaration of Independence - ANSWER Statement of American ideals -role of
government is to protect their natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) -
adopted July 4, 1776.
Also listed grievances against the king. Colonists were angry over being taxed
without their consent (no taxation without representation).
,Assent - ANSWER Official approval or agreement
Tyranny - ANSWER Cruel and oppressive government or rule.
Shay's Rebellion (1787) - ANSWER Protests by Massachusetts farmers over tax
collections and judgments for debt. State militia crushed the rebels.
Alarmed politicians - cited as a reason to revise or replace the Articles of
Confederation.
Articles of Confederation - ANSWER First form of government for America.
Many Weaknesses:
Only had a Congress where 9 out of the 13 states had to agree.
No executive or judicial branch (power to enforce or interpret laws).
States had the majority of the power.
Country in debt - no way to raise money.
Preamble to the Constitution - ANSWER Introduction to the U.S. Constitution,
establishing the goals and purposes of government.
"We the People" = government depends on the people for its power and exists to
serve them.
Sets up the six goals of government.
Constitutional Government - ANSWER Any government whose authority and
construction are defined by a constitution.
Separation of Powers - ANSWER Powers of government are divided among three
branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
Limits the power of government.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure liberty.
Checks and Balances - ANSWER Each governmental branch has powers to limit
(check) the other branches.
Keeps the balance of power relatively equal between the branches.
Montesquieu (French philosopher) believed this was a way to ensure liberty.
Federalists - ANSWER Supporters of the Constitution who believe a strong national
government is needed to keep the country united.
Published the Federalist Papers to gain support for the Constitution.
Anti-
Federalists - ANSWER Feared a strong federal government as created by the
Constitution.
, Did not believe it would protect states' rights nor people's freedom.
As the Constitution is ratified, they push for a "Bill of Rights" to protect individual
liberties.
Bill of Rights - ANSWER First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution - details the
specific freedoms that belong to each American citizen.
Rule of Law - ANSWER No one is above the law.
Foundation of liberty in the United States and it protects us from tyranny;
Constitution = limited government.
Civil Law - ANSWER Group of laws that refer to disputes among people or
organizations.
Criminal Law - ANSWER Group of laws that define what acts/activities are crimes.
Describes how a person accused of a crime should be tried in court and how crimes
should be punished.
Constitutional Law - ANSWER Based on the Constitution and on Supreme Court
decisions interpreting the Constitution
Statutory Law - ANSWER Laws that are passed by a law-making body (such as
Congress).
Most criminal and many civil laws are also these types of laws.
Military Law - ANSWER Governs the behavior of men and women in all branches of
the U.S. armed forces.
Common Law - ANSWER Type of law that develops from judges previous decisions
and is followed in situations not covered by statutory law.
Sometimes, also called case law.
Juvenile Law - ANSWER An area of the law that deals with the actions and well-
being of persons who are not yet adults.
Citizenship - ANSWER As defined by the 14th Amendment: all who are born or
naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States and of the state
they reside in.
Naturalization - ANSWER Legal process through which immigrants become U.S.
citizens.
Must be at least 18 years old, have a background check showing "good moral
character", be fingerprinted, and pass tests on civics, U.S. history, and English
