1. Citizenship Handbook (Civics)
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2. Part 1: Ideas Behind the Constitution
Vocabulary:
Republic; Republic is a government in which citizens rule themselves through elected representatives.
Habeas Corpus: It means no person may be held in prison without being charged with a specific crime.
Private Property: It is property owned by an individual.
Separation of Powers: It is the idea that powers of government must be clearly defined and divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Dictatorship: It is a government in which one person or group holds complete authority.

3. As a Republic, the citizens would serve in office out of duty.
Ancient Rome
Framers looked to Rome as an example typeof government which was based on a Republic.
As a Republic, the citizens would serve in office out of duty.
They also were warned from history that like Rome’s history, luxury and stuff became more important than freedom and a dictatorship then occurs.

4. These documents created an English tradition of liberty.
The Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights are two documents that influenced the Constitution.
These documents created an English tradition of liberty.
They influenced the ideas that Citizens have rights which need to be protected
Everyone including the leaders must obey laws
People must vote on taxes
Election should be frequent.
Must have habeas corpus when accused of crime.
People have right to private property.
Two Historic Documents

5. Framers were influenced by the work of John Locke and Baron Montesquieu
John Locke declared that every individual has natural rights to Life, Liberty and property.
Locked believed government was an agreement between the leaders and the people. And, if the agreement was violated then people had the right to rebel.
Baron Montesquieu believed that separation of powers was needed to keep one person or group from gaining power.
Teachings of Enlightenment

6. Representative traditions and Declaration of Independence
Americans had a tradition of representative government as far back as the Mayflower compact.
Each 13 colony had a written charter that identified powers and limits of government.
Framers used these charters on limits of government to base their grievances on the Declaration of Independence.

7. Assessment
1. Two principles of American government that came from the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights are that Citizens have rights which the government must protect and elections should be held frequently.
2. Montesquieu’s ideas affected the Constitution is the Separation of Powers which are the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches.