September 20th

Roots of American Government
*The roots of American government are planted firmly in the political heritage of Great Britain. When the British started colonizing America in the early 17th century they brought along with them political traditions that had existed back in Britain for hundreds of years. The following things had a profound effect on the development of the type of government we enjoy in the United States today.

-The Magna Carta: In the year 1215 the British nobility forced King John to limit his power. King John signed away some of his power and the idea of an absolute monarchy was forever dead in Britain. King John agreed to protect the nobility from himself; he gave up his power to punish the nobles indiscriminately, he also guaranteed the nobility that he would protect their lives, and property.

-Parliament: After the Magna Carta was signed King John’s position was greatly weakened; the nobles that forced him to sign the document formed a legislative body called Parliament. Parliament could propose and pass laws with the Kings consent. The British Parliament originally had only one chamber made up of the nobility called the House of Lords. Over time, the King and the nobility saw their power erode away; a second chamber was added to Parliament that was made up of common people with no ties to the nobility, this chamber came to be known as the House of Commons. Today in Britain most of the power of government lies in the hands of the House of Commons.

-The English Bill of Rights: This document was enacted in 1689 by Parliament, it created a clear code that limited the power of the King even further than the Magna Carta, and guaranteed British citizens certain rights. The English Bill of Rights has 6 main points; they are as follows:

1. Monarchs do not have divine right to rule; they rule only with the consent of a Parliament that represents the people.
2. The monarch cannot levy taxes, suspend laws, or raise and maintain a military without the direct consent of Parliament.

3. The monarch cannot interfere with acts of Parliament, parliamentary debates, or parliamentary elections.

4. The people have the right to petition the government.

5. All people have a right to have a fair and speedy trial decided by a jury of their peers.

6. The people should not be subject to cruel or unusual punishment or excessive bails.

-The Ideas of John Locke: The English political and social philosopher John Locke has influenced American government more than any other individual. In his writings, the Two Treatises on Government and Civil Disobedience, Locke theorized that government was responsible to serve the needs of the people. Locke made the following points:
-All people are born free, equal, and independent.

-All people naturally possessed the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of property.

-Governments are created by the people to serve their needs.

-When a government stops serving the needs of the people, and when the government no longer protects the natural rights of the people, the people then have every right to change the government by any means necessary.

-Government is an agreement between the people and leaders, both parties are expected to live up to their end of the bargain.

*Some of the most famous believers and followers of Lockean theory were Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin. The ideas writings of John Locke are often referred to as the textbook of the American Revolution.