Principles of Law and Governance

Is a principle under which all persons, institutions, and entities are accountable to laws that are: publicly promulgated, equally enforced, independently adjudicated

• rule of law

• natural law

• common law

• social contract

 A body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct

• rule of law

• natural law

• common law

• social contract

A body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts

• rule of law

• natural law

• common law

• social contract

An actual or hypothetical compact, or agreement, between the ruled or between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each

• rule of law

• natural law

• common law

• social contract

Government officials elected by the people to make decisions for them

• Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

Decisions are made by directly involving the public.

• Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

Purpose was to rally the troops and announce the creation of a new country, America! 

• Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

Purpose was to establish the functions of the National Government after the US declared independence from Great Britain.

• Representative Democracy

• Direct Democracy

• Declaration of Independence

• Articles of Confederation

Purpose was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without so much power that fundamental rights would be at risk.

• Constitution

• John Locke

• William Blackstone

• Charles de Montesquieu

Pioneered the ideas of natural law, social contract, religious toleration, and the right to revolution.

• Constitution

• John Locke

• William Blackstone

• Charles de Montesquieu