Principles Of Constitutional Democracy

Front 1

Articles Of Confederation

Back 1

The first government of the United States was

based on this, which was created in 1777.

Front 2

Bill Of Rights

Back 2

These are the first ten amendments to the U.S.

Constitution, generally directed at protecting the

individual from abuse of power by the national

government.

Front 3

Checks and Balances

Back 3

This is the system of overlapping powers among

judicial, executive, and legislative branches to allow

each branch to oversee the actions of the others.

Front 4

Citizen

Back 4

This is a community member, by birth or by

naturalization, who owes loyalty to the government

and is entitled to the government's protection.

Front 5

Confederation

Back 5

A group of provinces or states that come together

under a common constitution. They differ from a

federation in that they retain specific state or

provincial rights.

Front 6

Constitution

Back 6

This is the system by which the main institutions of

a nation's government are arranged and kept in

place. It may be written down (as in the United

States) or it may be unwritten (as in Great Britain).

Front 7

Declaration of Independence

Back 7

This was an act passed by the Second Continental

Congress on July 4, 1776 declaring the thirteen

American Colonies independent of British rule.

Front 8

Democracy

Back 8

In this type of government, political and

governmental power is held by the citizens of the

country.

Front 9

Direct Democracy

Back 9

This is a system of government in which the people

participate directly in making all public policy.

Front 10

Enlightenment

Back 10

This was an 18th century intellectual movement

Front 11

Executive

Back 11

This is the branch of government that is responsible

for carrying out the laws.

Front 12

Federal Government

Back 12

This refers to the level of government responsible

for printing money, funding the U.S. Armed

Services, and much more.

Front 13

Federalism

Back 13

This system of government has powers divided

between the central government and regional

governments, with central government being

supreme.

Front 14

Federalist Papers

Back 14

This was a series of Articles written to persuade

New York to ratify the Constitution.

Front 15

Hobbes

Back 15

He was a 17th century English philosopher whose

book "Leviathan" (1651) helped to clarify both the

"social contract theory" of government.

Front 16

Judicial

Back 16

This is the branch of government that is responsible

for interpreting what the law means.

Front 17

Legislative

Back 17

This is the branch of government that creates and

makes laws.

Front 18

Leviathan

Back 18

This is the name of Thomas Hobbes 1651 book that

deals with the structure and nature of society and

government, and which was an influence on John

Locke and other Enlightenment-era philosophers.

Front 19

Limited Government

Back 19

This is a form of government in which the power to

rule is significantly restrained by a strong

Constitution or other document.