Documents that influenced the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America, Fundamental Principles - CE 2A-C

The Declaration of Independence

- stated grievances against the king of Great Britain - declared the colonies' independence from Great Britain - affirmed "certain unalienable rights" (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) - established the idea that all people are equal under the law

Democracy

-A system in government where people rule

Rule of Law

-Law rules everyone -The government and those who are governed are bound by law

Consent of the governed

-Permission from the people to the government to govern ** The people are the source of ALL government power**

Limited government

-The government is NOT all power -It can only do what the people have given it the power to do

Representative Government

-The people elect office holders to make laws and conduct government on their behalf

The Articles of Confederation

-established the first form of national government for the independent states - maintained that major powers resided with individual states - created weak central government (e.g., no power to tax or enforce laws) - led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America

The Constitution of the United States of America

-established the structure of the United States government -guaranteed equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected -affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people -protected the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

Representative Government

When you go to high school, you will elect class officers to make decisions for you on the school government.

Consent of the Governed

When your school district needs money to build a new high school, they must ask the voters to approve borrowing the money.

Magna Carta

gave Englishmen basic rights and freedoms established for the first time the principle that everyone including the king was subject to the law (rule of law)

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

guaranteed the rights of Englishmen to the colonists

What is the Preamble?

is a brief introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

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

The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

stated freedom of religious beliefs and opinions

Rule of Law

Male teachers are not allowed to wear spaghetti strap tank tops to school.

Limited Government

The government does not have the power to make a national religion.

Democracy

There are two ways to have this kind of government. The first way is that all the people who come together and vote on all the laws. The second way is to elect people to vote on laws for us.

Preamble

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America