Founding Principles of American Government

The transcript discusses Machiavelli's views on authoritarian power and how the U.S. Founding Fathers sought to minimize such features in the Constitution. It highlights the Federalist Papers, the importance of moral and spiritual virtues, and the design of constitutional safeguards to prevent authoritarianism. The document also reflects on historical challenges and the ongoing responsibility to maintain a republic.

What was one of the main goals of the founding fathers when designing the American Constitution?

• To create a government based on Machiavellian principles

• To minimize authoritarian features

• To ensure the government had unlimited power

• To establish a monarchy

According to Hamilton in the Federalist Papers, what is essential for all subsequent reasoning?

• Secondary truths

• First principles

• Public opinion

• Political bias

What did Machiavelli believe was necessary for good government?

• Complete secularism

• A strong monarchy

• Republican government

• Authoritarian rule

What did the founding fathers believe was necessary for establishing good government?

• A single state religion

• Moral and spiritual virtues

• Unlimited government power

• A strong military presence

What does the Second Amendment recognize according to the founding fathers?

• The need for a strong federal army

• The necessity of a state religion

• The importance of disarming citizens

• The right of citizens to bear arms to retain liberty

What is the purpose of the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution?

• To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

• To ensure the president has ultimate authority

• To eliminate the need for a legislative branch

• To concentrate power in the executive branch

What did Benjamin Franklin mean by 'a republic, if you can keep it'?

• The government will maintain itself without citizen involvement

• Citizens must actively work to maintain the republic

• The government will always remain a republic

• The republic will eventually become a monarchy

What did President Lincoln emphasize in his Gettysburg Address?

• The superiority of authoritarian rule

• The need for a strong military

• The importance of continuing the work of those who fought for freedom

• The inevitability of government failure

According to President Reagan, how is freedom passed to future generations?

• Through government policies

• By inheritance

• By actively fighting for and protecting it

• Automatically through the Constitution

What is the role of citizens in maintaining the principles of the Constitution?

• To focus only on local governance

• To rely solely on the government

• To actively participate and uphold its principles

• To ignore political processes