Principles Of Constitutional Democracy Set

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
beginning in France.

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.

Front 20

Local Government

Back 20

This refers to the level of government responsible

for things like police and fire protection, and is led

by a mayor or council.

Front 21

Magna Carta

Back 21

This was the Great Charter of English liberty

granted (under considerable duress) by King John

at Runnymede on June 15, 1215.

Front 22

Majority Rule

Back 22

This is a basic rule of democracy: one more than

half of all voting persons must approve for

something to become law.

Front 23

Mayflower

Back 23

This was was the famous ship that transported the

English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims,

from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620.

Front 24

Mayflower Compact

Back 24

This was the first governing document of Plymouth

Colony, signed by the Pilgrims in November of

1620.

Front 25

Montesquieu

Back 25

He was a French philosopher who developed a

number of political theories in his Spirit of the Laws.

Front 26

Natural Rights

Back 26

This is a political theory that individuals have

privileges that no government can deny.

Front 27

Patriotism

Back 27

This is a love for one's country.

Front 28

Popular Sovereignty

Back 28

This is the belief that the ultimate power of the

government rests on the will of the people

themselves.

Front 29

Representative Democracy

Back 29

This is a type of government in which the people

give elected officials the authority to make laws and

conduct government business.

Front 30

Representative Government

Back 30

This is a type of government in which the citizens

elect government officials to make laws and run the

government.

Front 31

Republic

Back 31

This is a form of government in which citizens elect

leaders to run the government.

Front 32

Rousseau

Back 32

He was a French Enlightenment philosopher and

author of The Social Contract, which became one of

the most influential works of political philosophy in

the Western tradition.

Front 33

Rule Of Law

Back 33

This is the legal notion that the power of

government is limited and restrained by legal

means and is not at the mercy and whims of

individuals.

Front 34

Rule Of Man

Back 34

This political concept describes the political

condition in which a single ruler or party exercises

absolute authority and is not bound by any law.

Front 35

Second Treatise On

Government

Back 35

This 1689 book by John Locke asserts that

governments exist because of a "social contract

theory" based on people's natural rights.

Front 36

Separation Of Powers

Back 36

This is the Constitutional principle that the law

making, executive, and judicial powers be held by

different groups and people.

Front 37

Social Contract Theory

Back 37

This is an agreement between the governed and

the government defining and limiting the rights and

duties of each.

Front 38

Spirit Of Laws

Back 38

This is the name of the 1748 book by Baron de

Montesquieu in which he stresses a government's

need to have a separation of power, support of the

rule of law, and other Enlightenment-era ideals.