Origins of the US Constitution 1787 (ratified 1791)
No cruel & unusual punishment
Right to fair & speedy trial by peers
Govt' must have peoples approval to levy taxes
Basis of legitimate gov't
Ruler gains authority through consent of governed
Protect natural rights of people
Life, Liberty & Property
If gov't fails to protect citizens, they have a right to overthrow gov't
First elected representative assembly in America
Elected from each county in Virginia with each county sending two representatives
Developed by Iroquois Nation
Oldest, highly evolved participatory democracy
Included: Freedom of speech, religion,
Separation of Powers
2 houses & Grand Counsel
Women's Counsel = to Supreme Court
Benjamin Franklin + Albany Congress 1754
First written Constitution in Colonies that outlined how gov't worked
Powers & Limits of gov't
Framework for their government needed to be written and approved by representatives of the people
Freedom of speech & debate
No excess bails
Right to petition gov't
Right to trial
Contract to self gov't
Gov't organized for good of people
Rights of commoners to have a voice in gov't
Declaration of Independence 1776
Unalienable Rights
People have right to replace bad gov't
James Madison
Proposed strong central gov't
3 Branches
Each state to have 1 vote in Congress
Based on population
William Patterson
ONE house = ONE repr. from EACH state
Roger Sherman
Proportional Gov't
ONE Repr. per state
2 houses
Senate
House of Repr.