English GovernmentEnglish Government

Who made the laws?Who made the laws?

Legislature – Legislature – lawmaking body of a lawmaking body of a governmentgovernment

Parliament – legislative Parliament – legislative body in Britainbody in Britain

Magna CartaMagna Carta In 1215, nobles forced King John to sign this In 1215, nobles forced King John to sign this

document giving nobles certain rights, especially over document giving nobles certain rights, especially over land ownershipland ownership

Showed the king would now have limits to power by Showed the king would now have limits to power by guaranteeing no one was above the lawguaranteeing no one was above the law

Rule of LawRule of Law Viewed as the most Viewed as the most importantimportant document in the document in the

history of governmenthistory of government Established the concept of limited governmentEstablished the concept of limited government

Page 768Page 768

Magna CartaMagna Carta

Parliament Parliament

King Henry III met with nobles regularlyKing Henry III met with nobles regularly Developed into Parliament or the legislative Developed into Parliament or the legislative

body for Englandbody for England Britain moved from an Authoritarian Absolute Britain moved from an Authoritarian Absolute

Monarchy to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy by the late 1300sMonarchy by the late 1300s

Key Events in English Government Key Events in English Government HistoryHistory

1688 – Parliament removed King James from his 1688 – Parliament removed King James from his positionposition Showed parliament was the true power of EnglandShowed parliament was the true power of England

1689 – English Bill of Rights1689 – English Bill of Rights Gave parliament power to raise taxes, make laws and Gave parliament power to raise taxes, make laws and

control the armycontrol the army Monarch could not suspend Parliamentary lawsMonarch could not suspend Parliamentary laws

Parliament is the TRUE powerParliament is the TRUE power

Parliament would be elected freelyParliament would be elected freely Free speech & a right to trial were establishedFree speech & a right to trial were established Banned cruel & unusual punishmentBanned cruel & unusual punishment

Common LawCommon Law

Based on precedents (an earlier ruling in a Based on precedents (an earlier ruling in a similar situation)similar situation)

Rests on Rests on CourtCourt decisions rather than decisions rather than lawmakerslawmakers

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

Greatest influence on American governmentGreatest influence on American government Philosophy in which reason or ability to think Philosophy in which reason or ability to think

was used as the basis for authoritywas used as the basis for authority ExamplesExamples

Documents: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Documents: Declaration of Independence, Bill of RightsRights

People: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, People: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

John LockeJohn Locke English philosopher – believed in limited governmentEnglish philosopher – believed in limited government

Wrote the Second Treatise of Government Wrote the Second Treatise of Government Helped develop the Social Contract Theory with Jean Helped develop the Social Contract Theory with Jean

Jacques RousseauJacques Rousseau Government is bound by contract with its people but Government is bound by contract with its people but

people give up absolute freedompeople give up absolute freedom In exchange, the government protects the rights of citizensIn exchange, the government protects the rights of citizens The role of government is protect citizens’ rightsThe role of government is protect citizens’ rights If the government is not doing this, the people can redefine If the government is not doing this, the people can redefine

their government (EX: vote them out of office)their government (EX: vote them out of office) If the government itself infringes on the rights of people or If the government itself infringes on the rights of people or

seriously undermines the people, the people have a right to seriously undermines the people, the people have a right to revolutionrevolution

John Locke cont. John Locke cont. Natural RightsNatural Rights

People have certain rights People have certain rights that cannot be taken awaythat cannot be taken away

Life, Liberty & Life, Liberty & PropertyProperty His ideas led to the rebirth His ideas led to the rebirth

of democracyof democracy ““Whenever Law ends, Whenever Law ends,

Tyranny begins.” – Tyranny begins.” – Second Second Treatise of GovernmentTreatise of Government

Class Discussion: What Class Discussion: What do you think he means by do you think he means by this quote?this quote?

Principals of American DemocracyPrincipals of American Democracy

Rule of Law – Magna Carta – no one is above the lawRule of Law – Magna Carta – no one is above the law Limited Government – Magna Carta & John Locke– Limited Government – Magna Carta & John Locke–

government is not all powerful, it may only do what government is not all powerful, it may only do what people have given it to dopeople have given it to do

Consent of the Governed – John Locke – citizens Consent of the Governed – John Locke – citizens source of powersource of power

Individual rights – John Locke – seen in the Individual rights – John Locke – seen in the Declaration of Independence – protected by the Declaration of Independence – protected by the governmentgovernment

Principals of American DemocracyPrincipals of American Democracycont. cont.

Representative Government – government Representative Government – government represents the wants & needs of citizensrepresents the wants & needs of citizens

Majority Rule – When differences arise, we Majority Rule – When differences arise, we will abide by what most people wantwill abide by what most people want

Minority Rights – at the same time as going Minority Rights – at the same time as going with the majority, we will respect the rights of with the majority, we will respect the rights of the minoritythe minority