Limiting Government

Foundations of Government: Rights and Limited Government

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Multiple Choice

Review: What did Thomas Hobbes call the time before government?

• Time before law

• Nation of evil

• The Purge

• State of Nature

Multiple Choice

According to the edpuzzle video, when people agree to work together instead of fight or steal, this agreement is called a ?

• Agreement

• Contract

• Notary

• Govern

So we have a government, what now?

• So we learned that we need a government with Thomas Hobbes.

• But what should the government actually do?

Enter John Locke

• Locke was an English philosopher who was the first to write about "Natural Rights"

• Natural rights are things you are born with and can not be taken away.

• The big three: "Life, liberty, property."

Multiple Select

What were the big three natural rights according to John Locke?

• Pursuit of happiness

• Liberty

• Property

• Money

• Life

What does government have to do with rights?

• According to Locke, the government's job is to protect your rights.

• If someone tries to stop you from practicing your rights, the government should step in and help you and punish the offender.

Multiple Choice

According to John Locke, what was the job of the government?

• To protect people's rights

• To tax people

• To fight wars to defend autocracy

• To suggest new menu items for Taco Bell.

What happens if the government doesn't do its job?

• Locke says that the people should get rid of that government and replace it with a new one.

• He believed the government answered to the people!

Multiple Choice

According to John Locke, what should the people do if the government doesn't protect your rights?

• People should get free stuff

• People should change the government.

• People should move to another country with more freedom

• People should go along with what the government says.

Differences between Hobbes and Locke

• Hobbes believed in more security, less freedom

• Locke believed in more freedom, less security.

• Hobbes believed in a powerful king.

• Locke believed that people should choose their leaders.

Multiple Choice

Which statement is true?

• Hobbes wanted people to vote for their leaders.

• John Locke believed in the state of nature.

• John Locke thought that the people should hold the government accountable.

• Hobbes did not believe in the state of nature.

Let's not forget Rousseau

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau is another philosopher but a bit more "out there."

• He believed in direct democracy, people should not elect leaders but get together and make laws themselves.

• He also believed man was inherently good.

Multiple Choice

Rousseau believed in what type of democracy?

• Direct Democracy

• Representative Democracy

• Anarchical Democracy

• Monarchical Democracy

What about non-European ideas of government?

• Many Middle Eastern writers shared similar ideas about government

Ibn Khaldun

• Ibn Khaldun shared many ideas that Locke would later support.

• For instance, Ibn Khaldun believed the government should be, "should be restrained to a minimum for as a necessary evil, it is the constraint of men by other men."

Multiple Choice

Which English philosopher shared ideas of limited government with Ibn Khaldun?

• Thomas Hobbes

• John Locke

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau

​Who rules? One, a few, or many?

by Lon Thrasher

Who would those few be? Can you think of some examples we have discussed in previous lessons?

Limited or unlimited?​

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​Small groups discuss and share their thoughts

​Ruled by a few (group)

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Who are the many? How do they make their voices heard in the government? Is this limited or unlimited? Is it easy to change this kind of government? Why or why not?

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​What is ruled by MANY?

Who would be the ONE in charge?

Would this be limited or unlimited? Why?

Can it be changed easily?​

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​Table groups discuss and share with larger group.

​What is ruled by one?

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​Government by 1, few and many

​Government by ONE: Unlimited -

​DICTATORSHIP & Absolute Monarchy

​Government by FEW: Unlimited - Oligarchy & Theocracy

​Government by MANY: Limited - Democracy & Constitutional Monarchy

Multiple Choice

In my country, we elect representatives by voting and we have the freedom to change our government by voting. What kind of government do I have?

• A dictatorship

• An Absolute Monarchy

• A representative democracy

• An Oligarchy

Multiple Choice

A representative democracy is an example of

• Ruled by One

• Ruled by Many

• Ruled by Few

• Ruled by none

Multiple Choice

An example of a government ruled by a few would be

• An Oligarchy

• A Democracy

• A Dictatorship

• A Constitutional Monarchy

Multiple Choice

In my country, we our ruler is called a dictator. He makes the rules and we can only do what he allows us to do. This is

• A dictatorship that is ruled by ONE

• A democracy that is ruled by a FEW

• A dictatorship that is ruled by MANY

• A Constitutional Monarchy that is ruled by FEW

​Origins of Democracy

​In the United States and most of the countries in North and South America, the form of government is democratic. Democratic forms of government allow people to vote, have a constitution and are easy to change because you can vote in different leaders in the next election. Direct democracy started in Ancient Greece and representative democracy in Ancient Rome.

Multiple Choice

The origins of democracy are in

• England and Spain

• Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece

• The United States and most of North and South America

• Russia

Multiple Choice

Direct Democracy is the form of government where citizens vote on all the rules. It started in

• Ancient Rome

• Ancient Greece

• The USA

• The United Kingdom

Multiple Choice

Ancient Rome was the first to elect representatives that made the laws on behalf of the citizens of Ancient Rome. This is the type of government we have in the USA and it is called:

• Direct Democracy

• Dictatorship

• Representative Democracy

• Oligarchy

​Unlimited Govt.

​An oligarchy is a government that is ruled by a select group of people. We say it is ruled by few because only one group (a single political party, a single race, a family, a wealthy group, or a religious group) are allowed to be in the leadership of the government.

​Monarchies

​All Monarchies are not the same. One is limited and one is unlimited.

​Absolute Monarchies have a king who has complete control. What he says must be followed. If not, the punishments are harsh.

​Constitutional Monarchies are limited, as the monarch has little political power and people elect representatives that make the rules.

Multiple Choice

Which type of monarchy is unlimited government?

• Absolute Monarchy

• Constitutional Monarchy

• Democratic Monarchy

• Any Monarchy

Multiple Choice

A constitutional monarchy is an example of

• Unlimited government

• A limited government

• Dictatorship

• Theocracy

Principles of the Consitution

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Multiple Choice

What Constitutional Principle says "We the People"?

• Popular Sovereignty
• Judicial Review
• Limited Government
• Separation of Powers

Multiple Choice

What is "checks and balances?"

• Each branch of power has the ability to limit the power of the other branches. 
• The people elect their leaders. 
• The people are in charge. 
• The people have rights. (Bill of Rights) 

Multiple Choice

The fact that states can make their own laws is an example of which constitutional principle?

• separation of power
• federalism

Multiple Choice

These are personal liberties (freedoms) and privileges that should be guaranteed to every citizen

• Individual Rights
• Separation of Powers
• Limited Government