1. Fundamentals of Government: Political Philosophies
Unit 1

2. Philosophies
Section 1

3. Political Philosophies that shaped the U.S. Government
Key Ideas:
Limited Government (Magna Carta)
Government is not all powerful
Power of the government should be limited, not absolute
Provides protection against unjust punishment and loss of life, liberty and property
Taxation requires representation

4. Political Philosophies that shaped the U.S. Government
Key Ideas:
Rule of Law (English Bill of Rights)
Set clear limits on what rulers can and cannot do
Representation for the people required to rule

5. Political Philosophies that shaped the U.S. Government
Key Ideas:
Petition of Right
Parliament document on liberties and rights of the people
that no freeman should be forced to pay any tax, loan, or benevolence, unless in accordance with an act of parliament;
that no freeman should be imprisoned contrary to the laws of the land;
that soldiers and sailors should not be billeted on private persons;
commissions to punish soldiers and sailors by martial law should be abolished.

6. Philosophers
Section 2

7. Philosophers: Thomas Hobbes
Believed people need to create a government for protection
Give people natural rights of equality, freedom
Absolute power given to a sovereign

8. Philosophers: John Locke
Required a social contract to assure peace
Natural rights (inalienable) can not be taken away
Social contract was an agreement between people and king (leader)
People give up some of their natural rights to ensure protection of the government
People had a responsibility to revolt if king (leader) violated those natural rights
Favored a representative type government

9. Philosophers: Charles Montesquieu
State of nature: people want to live in a society for protection
Believed in a separation of powers

10. Philosophers: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
1762 – Social Contract Theory
Favored a direct democracy type government
People will hold all political power
“We the People”