Government Test 1 Flashcards
Civil Rights
The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship. in the United States, the term refers especially to the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13 and 14 amendments to the U.S. constitution and by subsequent acts of congress. these include civil liberties,, due process, equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination.
Consent
permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
Law of Nature
In natural rights philosophy, moral rules found out by correctly applied reason or right reason, telling persons what they may and may not do in various circumstances. In philosophy, laws of nature have often refereed to the rules that would prevail in the absence of man made law. Natural law is conceived to contain standards of justice that apply to all people.
Natural Rights
The doctrine that people have basic rights, such as those to life, liberty, and property in a state of nature. Some writers, especially those influencing the American Founders, argued that certain of these rights are inalienable-inherent to being human-and that people create governments to protect those rights.
John Locke
A political English philosopher, physician. Came up with the natural rights, the rights you are born with.
Political Rights
All rights of a citizen in a free society that are clearly expressed and guaranteed by the Constitution and implied by natural laws
Social Contract
Presumption of an imaginary or actual agreement among people to set up a government and obey its laws. The theory was developed by the English natural rights philosopher John Locke, among others, to explain the origin of legitimate government
Unalienable
Fundamental rights inherent to being human that every person therefore possess that can not be taken away by government or another entity. This phrase was used in the Virginia Declaration of rights and the Declaration of Independence. Inalienable is some times spelled unalienable
Legitimate
Conforming to the law or the rules
What was the importance of John Locke’s theory of government?
His political theory of government by the consent of the governed as a means to protect “Life, Liberty, and the estate” is often called the Natural Rights Philosophy. The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges everyone…No one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions…
Explain consent of the government
Thomas Jefferson included this idea in the Declaration when he wrote that “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
Should some rights be given more protection than other rights? Why?
Yes, the top rights should be freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Without these being the top ones it would be difficult for us to express are feelings of freedom and religion
What is the purpose of government?
Government purpose is to protect natural rights in an imperfect state of nature
Do we have a right to abolish government? (please explain)
Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of the right of the revolution, “ it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it”
Explain the difference between a limited government and unlimited government
A limited government has a set of laws and customs called a constitution that they go by. An unlimited government is considered more of a dictatorship.
