This document outlines the structre and functions of the us government. Americans follow the laws and policies within three levels of govt: Local state and federal The const guides us through the correct processes in the creation and implementation of a law laws place limitations on citizen behavior Most citezens agree with the laws bc the law benefit’s the common good and protects most basic rights Common good: greatest possible conditions of society for the greatest number of people living in it Citizens dute is to abide by the laws. Helps protect order and rights of all No one not even pres is above following the law
Us citizens can cchallenge the laws thru corts Citizen consent to laws and upholding the rule of law affirms the legitimacy of govt. Consent to agree or give permission Rule of law: The priciple that those who govern and those who are governed must obey the law and are subject to the same laws. Legitimacy: lawful, complying with recognized rules, standards, or traditions The us const protects the natural rights of human beings. The principle of natural rights has origins in ancient civilizations and religious teachings but the modern concept traces to the Elnightenment
Enlightenment: time of change in curo in seventeenth and eight cents when philosophers focused on reason as a way to solve problemsjohn locke: nat rights = life liberty and estate. Lock and founnders of us believed god granted each person these nat rights as indivs other philos agree with idea of nat rights but said hum beings had them bc of ability to reason and act as rational beings, either way idea of indiv or nat rights is vital princip of us govt todaysocial contract: idea that people agree or consent to govt authority and in return the govt protects the people and their rights
If social cont not upheld, the people could wdraw their consent abolish the govt and form a new one. Democracy means rule of the people. Two forms dem: direct and representative Direct democracy; every citezen vote or consent to every diceision. Impractical Rep demo: people consent through their votes to give certain people the power to make decisions on their behalf. Majority rule determines decisions, the law, or policy supported by the majority of people through their representatives. Republic is aka for rep govt
Rep govt: form of govt where peeps elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf In usa most official positions carry a term of office where people have the opportunity to choose someone else to represent them With each elec of new reps the peeps and gov are renewing citezenn consent and the social contact. Founders of us want to prevent a govt gwoig to large wher it would become unrestrained and infringe on peeps rights Small = limtd power Peeps and reps ensure that govt continues to only use powers which the people consent ar necessary
Rule of law: NO ONE IS ABOVE OR BELOW LAW If law broken then cert procedures will be followed Laws exist to protect safety and order all citz must obey them it is their dudy Fail rule of law: govt uses authority and chaos takes over. Rule of law protects safety and rights including rights to pursue goals and ssek justic WHY ARE THESE PRICN SO IMPT Idea of nat or indiv rights are fudnament Federalism: division of powers among the local, state, and federal governments
Rule of law: the governed and the governing must obehy the law and are subj to the same law Limtd govt: idea that govt should be restricted to its basic function of protecting the people’s natural rights Indiv rights: specific rights that belong to each person Consent of the governed or social contract: the idea that people agree or consent to the govt auth and in return the govt protects the peeps ans rigts Sep of pwers: dividing the govt powers into legislative, executive and judicial branches.
