STANDARD CE.2a
Fundamental Political Principles that Shaped our Government

The Standard: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by

a) explaining the fundamental principles of consent of the governed, limited government, rule of law, democracy, and representative government.

What are the fundamental political principles that have shaped government in the United States?

Fundamental political principles

• Consent of the governed—People are the source of any and all governmental power.

• Limited government—Government is not all-powerful and may do only those things people have given it the power to do.

• Rule of law—The government and those who govern are bound by the law.

• Democracy—In a democratic system of government the people rule.

• Representative government—In a representative system of government people elect public officeholders to make laws and conduct government on their behalf.

STANDARD CE.2b
Influential Documents that Shaped our Constitutional Government

The standard: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by

b) explaining the significance of the charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and the Constitution of the United States of America, including the Bill of Rights.

How does the Constitution of the United States of America reflect previous documents, including the charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom?

American constitutional government is founded on concepts articulated in earlier documents, including the charters of the Virginia Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

Influence of earlier documents on the Constitution of the United States of America

Charters of the Virginia Company of London
Rights of Englishmen guaranteed to colonists

The Virginia Declaration of Rights
 Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America

Declaration of Independence
  Stated grievances against the king of Great Britain
  Declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain
  Affirmed “certain unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
  Established the idea that all people are equal under the law

Articles of Confederation 
  Established the first form of national government for the independent states
  Maintained that major powers resided with individual states
  Weakness of central government (e.g., no power to tax and enforce laws)
  Led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
  Freedom of religious beliefs and opinions

Constitution of the United States of America, including the Bill of Rights
  Establishes the structure of the United States government  
  Guarantees equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected
  Affirms individual worth and dignity of all people
  Protects the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

STANDARD CE.2c
The Preamble States the Purpose of the Constitution

The standard: The student will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of American constitutional government by

c) identifying the purposes for the Constitution of the United States of America as they are stated in its Preamble.

What are the purposes identified in the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America?

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America expresses the reasons the constitution was written.

Purposes of U.S. government
• To form a union
• To establish justice
• To ensure domestic peace
• To provide defense

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America begins, “We the people,” which establishes that the power of government comes from the people.