PA-4 U.S. Constitution Flashcards
- STATE Locke’s general principles embodied in the US Constitution.
a. Equality
b. Natural law and natural right - societies, as well as governments, should operate in a manner in line with the laws of nature, or natural rights for all people
c. Social contract - citizens of a nation state could join together for the mutual protection of their rights
- LIST ways to amend the US Constitution.
a. Proposed by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Ratification of an amendment takes three-fourths of the states to approve.
- DESCRIBE the five parts of the Declaration of Independence.
a. Intro – “states that this document will “declare the causes” that have made it necessary for the American colonies to leave the British Empire.”
b. Preamble - sets out principles that were already recognized to be “self- evident” by most eighteenth century Englishmen, closing with the statement that “a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations… evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”
c. Body Part 1 - gives evidence of the “Long Train of Abuses and Usurpations” heaped upon the colonists by King George III.
d. Body Part 2 - states that the colonists had appealed in vain to their “British Brethren” for a redress of their grievances.
e. Conclusion - “these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.”
