Name:______________________
Fundamental Principles and Historical Documents
Part I. Fundamental Principles of American Government – CE.2a
Fundamental means… BASIC
Principle means…VALUES AND BELIEFS
Put it together! What are fundamental principles?
THE BASIC VALUES AND BELIEFS OF OUR GOVERNMENT.

Consent of the governed - The people are the source of any and all governmental
_____________________________
power. (Permission)
Example: The people voting for their President show their consent of permission to be governed.

Limited Government
_____________________________
- Government is not all-powerful and may only do those
things the people have given it the power to do. (what the government cannot do)
Example: The government cannot make people wear pink shirts on Mondays.

Rule of Law
_____________________________
- The Government and those who govern are bound by law,
as are those who governed.
Example: The President may not speed through D.C, get pulled over and not have to pay for a
speeding ticket.

Democracy
_____________________________
- The people rule.
Example: One way citizens of the US are a part of the government is through voting.

Representative
Government_____________________________
The people elect public officeholders to make laws and
conduct government on the people’s behalf
Example: The people of Chantilly elected a new member in the House of Representatives to
represent them in Congress.
Part II. Historical Documents that Influenced the Constitution CE.2b
Which historical documents came from Virginia?? Charters of the VA Company of London,
Virginia Declaration of Rights, and Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom
Declaration of Independence (1776)
Your Notes:
Articles of Confederation (1781-1787)
Your Notes:
Part III. Constitution (1787 - Present Day) CE.2b
The American constitutional government is founded on concepts written in earlier documents.
Your Notes: