Founding Documents and Principles of the United States Flashcards

• Government power is limited by laws and the Constitution.
• Leaders must follow the rules just like everyone else (rule of law).

The people elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

• Power is shared between the national government and the state governments.
• Each has its own responsibilities.

• Each branch of government (Legislative, Executive, Judicial) can limit the power of the others.
• This keeps any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Government is divided among the three branches, with each branch having its own duties.

• The power of the government comes from the people.
• Citizens vote and have a voice in how they are governed.

An English document that limited the king’s power and introduced the idea that everyone-even rulers-must follow the law.

Traditional English laws based on court decisions and customs, which influenced American legal ideas like trial by jury.

Gave English settlers the right to form a colony in Virginia and guaranteed them the same rights as English citizens.

• Written by George Mason
• Declared that Virginians had certain rights that they were born with
• Model for the U.S. Bill of Rights

• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Listed grievances (complaints) against the King
• People have certain unalienable rights
• Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
• Announced colonies were breaking away from Great Britain and ought to be “free and independent”

• The first government of the United States
• Didn’t work, because it was weak
• Weaknesses
• No power to tax
• No power to enforce laws
• Too much power left in the hands of the states.

• Written by Thomas Jefferson
• Freedom to worship however you choose
• Separation of Church and State
• Helped influence the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution

Favored big states and believed states with larger populations should have more representation.

Favored all states having equal power, no matter their size.

Supported the writing of the US Constitution and the creation of a strong central government.

Leader: Alexander Hamilton

Did not support the writing of the US Constitution and believed it gave too much power to the national government (Led to the writing of the Bill of Rights)

Leader: Thomas Jefferson

Combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to create a bicameral legislature with two houses.

Enslaved people would count as only Three-Fifths of a person to help settle disputes over representation and taxation.

Favored Strong Central Government

Gave the idea of Checks and Balances

It is an introduction/beginning to the Constitution that explains the purposes and goals of the government.

In order to form a more perfect union (states coming together)

Establish justice (court system)

Ensure domestic tranquility (police keeping us safe in the US)

Provide common defense (military)

Promote the general welfare (taking care of the people/environment)

Secure the Blessings of Liberty (freedom)

States the roles and responsibilities of the Legislative Branch

States the roles and responsibilities of the Executive Branch

States the roles and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch

Everyone, including leaders, must follow the law.

The U.S. Constitution is the highest law in the land. If state and national laws conflict, the national law wins.

The government must follow fair procedures and laws before taking away a person’s life, liberty, or property.