Government Unit 1: Political Philosophy: Governments are Instituted Among Men

George Mason

(Anti-Federalist) Known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights," he was a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention. He was the leader of those who pressed the Convention for a clear statement protecting the rights of states' and individuals from the powerful central government; when none was included in the original document, he refused to sign it. His efforts resulted in the addition of the Bill of Rights by the first Congress, based on the earlier Virginia Declaration of Rights, authored by Mason.

Roger Sherman

(Anti-Federalist) One member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence and also helped write the Articles of Confederation. A delegate from Connecticut to the Constitutional Convention who favored protection of states' rights, he offered what came to be called the Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise, which broke the stalemate between large and small states over state representation in the new Congress. (bicameral legislature)

James Wilson

(Anti-Federalist) Signer of the Declaration of Independence and twice elected to the Continental Congress, and was one of the most prominent legal scholars among the Founders. At the Constitutional Convention, he wanted representatives in Congress to be elected by popular vote. He proposed the Three-Fifths Compromise which counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person in determining how many representatives a state would be allotted in the House of Representatives, thus breaking a deadlock between slave and free states. He later served as one of the first Justices on the new Supreme Court.

Thomas Jefferson

(Anti-Federalist) The third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. He was an Anti-Federalist and supported a strong Bill of Rights. His opposition to a strong central government led to the creation of the first political parties. He was also a delegate to the Continental Congress. He did not take part in writing the Constitution because he was in France at the time. He was the first Secretary of State, taking Benjamin Franklin's place as Minister to France; he approved the Louisiana Purchase.

Alexander Hamilton

(Federalist) A New York delegate to the Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention. He was a leading Federalist, favored a strong central government, and wrote 51 out of 85 Federalist Papers. He was the first Secretary of the Treasury, during which time he established the Mint and the National Bank. He believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution.

James Madison

(Federalist) Called the "Father of the Constitution" since his work was essential to the writing and ratification of the Constitution. One of the authors of the Federalist Papers, he supported a strong central government. He also wrote the first 12 amendments to the Constitution, 10 of which were ratified as the Bill of Rights. He was the fourth president of the United States.

John Jay

(Federalist) He was President of the Continental Congress from 1778-1779 and 1789-1795 and first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Hamilton and Madison, warning in four of the articles of the dangers of "foreign force and influence" on a weak central government.

John Adams

(Federalist) Served in the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress, led the debate that ratified the Declaration of Independence, served as vice president for eight years under George Washington, and was elected the 2nd president of the United States in 1796.

Constitution

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society.

Authoritarian

A government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power.

republicanism

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. Supporters of republicanism believe that the only legitimate government is one based on the consent of the governed.

Laws of nature

A phrase found in the Declaration of Independence; includes standards of justice which transcend laws made by humans; also called natural law.

checks and balances

A political system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches. According to the U.S. Constitution, each of the three branches of government has distinct powers that can be limited in certain ways by the other two branches.

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Rights of resistance to illegitimate Government

A principle that states that authority is derived from the consent of the governed and that the sole purpose of the government is to protect individual liberties. If the government can no longer do so than the people should change or abolish it. This principle is laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

Moses

A religious figure who, according to religious traditions, divinely received the ten commandments.

Federalist Paper 10

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

John Locke

English political philosopher wrote Two Treatises of Government advocating natural rights of life, liberty and property as well as religious toleration, strongest influence on Thomas Jefferson.

Charles de Montesquieu

French political philosopher, major work The Spirit of the Laws advocated separation of powers as well as checks and balances to prevent one part of government from becoming too powerful.

social contract theory

In order for man to live in groups, he must give up some of his freedom to the government in exchange for protection of his natural rights. The idea was developed by Thomas Hobbes in "Leviathan", expanded by John Locke in "Second Treatise on Government", and by Jean Jacques Rousseau in "Social Contract". The authority of government is derived from the consent of the governed. The citizens could challenge a government that does not preserve their natural rights.

unalienable rights

Inherent or natural rights possessed by all as a birthright of humanity. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, stated "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Jefferson was inspired by the writings of John Locke's natural rights of "life, liberty, and property."

Federalist Paper 51

The Federalist Paper advocating three separate, independent branches with the same amount of power. Government should control people, but also its self, and individual rights should be protected.

Divine Right

The belief that a monarchy's power was given to them by the authority of God. Gives unlimited authority for the ruler.

separation of powers

The concept of separating the powers of government between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Each branch has distinct powers.

popular sovereignty

The concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government. Popular sovereignty is an important characteristic of a democratic government.

federalist system

The distribution of power between a federal government and the states within a union. The 10th Amendment reserved to the states powers that are not granted to the national government, unless they were otherwise prohibited to the states.

federalism

a system of government that supports a strong central power. Those favoring ratification of the Constitution and adoption of the federalist form of government were called Federalists.

William Blackstone

an English judge and professor who wrote the four-volume Commentaries on the Laws of England, in which he expressed his views on the common law of England. The four volumes included Rights of Persons, which describes the relationship between the government and the individual; Rights of Things, which explains the right of property; Private Wrongs, which deals with the law of torts or private complaints; and Public Wrongs, which focuses on crimes and punishments, including wrongs against God and religion.

Monarchy

government run by a king or queen