Name ____________________________

Fundamental Principles of American Democracy

Directions: Restate the following ideas in your own words and give an example of each. Use complete sentences.

Sample:

Rule of law: It doesn’t matter who you are; you must follow the same laws that everyone else follows.

Example: Former President Richard Nixon didn’t follow the idea of rule of law. He got caught and it cost him his job.

1. Democracy:

Example:

2. Limited Government:

Example:

3. Representative Government:

Example:

4. Consent of the Governed:

Example:

Historical Documents

Directions: State one important fact about each of the following documents. Also state how the document’s ideas were used when writing the U.S. Constitution. Use complete sentences.

Sample:

Magna Carta: This document limited the powers of King John when he signed it in 1215.

How it influenced the U.S. Constitution: The writers of the U.S. Constitution used the Magna Carta’s idea of limited government by placing limits on the powers of all members of our government.

1. Charters of the Virginia Company of London:

How it influenced the U.S. Constitution:

2. Virginia Declaration of Rights:

How it influenced the U.S. Constitution:

3. Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom:

How it influenced the U.S. Constitution:

4. Declaration of Independence:

How it influenced the U.S. Constitution:

5. Articles of Confederation:

How it influenced the U.S. Constitution: