Principles of Democracy Unit One

Popular Sovereignty/Consent of the Governed Definition Power comes from the people Example Citizens votes in elections without being threatened or intimidated

Rule of Law Definition Government leaders and citizens must follow a written constitution and laws Example Anyone found in violation of the Constitution or breaking a law are punished and brought to justice

Limited Government Definition The Constitution limits the powers of government by having three branches that check each other to make sure one does not become too powerful Example Separation of powers and checks and balances

Individual Rights and Freedoms Definition Citizens are born with certain rights and freedoms Example The right to a lawyer, found in the Bill of Rights

Majority Rules with Minority Rights protected Definition Even though the majority has the power, minorities still have their rights Example Mandatory prayer is not allowed in public schools even though most Americans may favor it

Equality of all persons under the law Definition All citizens are treated fairly and equally Example Every citizen may vote regardless of gender, race, economic status, or religion

Federalism Definition Power is divided and shared between states and the national government Example Each state has their own Constitution and laws but also must follow the U.S. Constitution and U.S. laws