English Government

Who makes the laws? Legislature – lawmaking body of a government Parliament – legislative body in Britain

Magna Carta In 1215, nobles forced King John to sign this document giving nobles certain rights, especially over land ownership Showed the king would now have limits to power by guaranteeing no one was above the law - Rule of Law Viewed as the most important document in the history of government - Established the concept of limited government

Magna Carta

Parliament King Henry III met with nobles regularly Developed into Parliament or the legislative/ law making body for England Britain moved from an Authoritarian Absolute Monarchy to a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy by the late 1300s Parliament

Other Key Events in English Gov’t History 1688 – Parliament removed King James from his position Showed parliament was the true power of England 1689 – English Bill of Rights Gave parliament power to raise taxes, make laws and control the army Monarch could not suspend Parliamentary laws Parliament is the TRUE power Parliament would be elected freely Free speech & a right to trial were established Banned cruel & unusual punishment

Based on precedents (an earlier ruling in a similar situation) Rests on Court decisions rather than lawmakers Common Law

The Enlightenment Greatest influence on American government Philosophy in which reason or ability to think was used as the basis for authority Examples Documents: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights The Enlightenment

Principals of American Democracy Rule of Law – No one is above the law Limited Government –Government is not all powerful, it may only do what people have given it to do Consent of the Governed – citizens source of power Individual rights – seen in the Declaration of Independence – protected by the government Principals of American Democracy

Principals of American Democracy cont. Representative Government – government represents the wants & needs of citizens Majority Rule – When differences arise, we will abide by what most people want Minority Rights – at the same time as going with the majority, we will respect the rights of the minority Principals of American Democracy cont.