1. Our Political Foundation
Mr. Rosenstock
Government
San Fernando High School

2. Basic Concepts of Our Government
Government: the orderly regulation of relationships between people
The English settlers who came here, brought with them ideas of government from England.
Established local governments
Established offices and units of government like: Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, the Grand Jury, Assessor, counties and townships
Additionally brought the concepts of limited government and representative government with them

5. Limited Government: this concept is the idea that government is not all-powerful.
Government is restricted in what it may do
Individuals (the People) have certain rights that the government may not take away

6. Representative Government: the idea that government should serve the will of the people.
People should decide what government should and should not do
“Government of, by, and for the People.”

7. Landmark English Documents
Magna Carta: a document that included fundamental rights such as:
Trial by jury – a jury of one’s peers
Due process of law – protection against arbitrary taking of life, liberty or property
A group of English nobles tired of the heavy-handed and arbitrary acts of King John, forced him to sign the Magna Carta (“Great Charter”)

8. Petition of Right: this document limited the king’s power.
No imprisonment or punishment without judgement of one’s peers
No martial law in peace time
Homeowners could not be required to shelter the King’s troops
King Charles I was forced to sign the Petition of Right by the English Parliament (a representative body like our Congress)

9. the English Bill of Rights: a list of provisions that further limited royal power
Required all parliamentary elections to be free
Taxation without the consent of Parliament is illegal
Subjects have the right to petition the king – without punishment
Right to a fair trial
No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishments