The people of the United States knew that it was important that no government - even our own government - could take away the rights that God had given them. ... Under these articles, the government could not have too much power. ... But, in order for this type of very conservative government to work, each state would have to agree on things at the same time and all would have to be willing to uphold the laws. ... The states believed that they had the responsibility to keep the federal government in check, and if the government crossed the line they, the states, advocated the power to nulli...

• Word Count: 570
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Some people might argue that the government cannot really devise a set of laws and rights that can serve towards human equality since everyone's different. ... Indeed, government's enforcement of a systematic set of laws and rights can be accomplished. ... History has proven us many times how alterations to the law works towards human equality. The government definitely has a lot more work to be done regarding revision of laws, the inadequacy of rights to privacy; a basic human right is one such example. ... In most areas of the U.S, privacy is protected as a common law, not a cons...

• Word Count: 1114
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

For example, the Supremacy Clause in Article IV of the Constitution states that the law of the land (federal government) overrides the law of the states. This basically means that if the states have a conflict of laws, whatever the federal government writes into law rules over what the states previously had. The federal government now controls national security, foreign policy, and coinage to name a few, whereas the state governments control simple parts such as marriage and police power. ... The Federalists believe that everyone should have liberty, and they trust the federal government to...

• Word Count: 1179
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Since the beginning of time, religious doctrine has dictated law. The Bible laid out the rules that people are to live by and these rules became law. ... By the end of 1776, British colonial governments collapsed. Revolutionary councils took the place of the crumbling governments and struggled to supply the lack of legitimacy left behind by the former government. ... States were struggling to establish legitimate governments. ...

• Word Count: 1203
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He explained the importance of checks and balances in a government, having different branches of government for different laws. ... He believed that all people and institutions needed to abide by law that is fairly enforced by the government. He argued that if the government violated these laws or an individuals human born rights, that it was the people's obligation to rebel and overthrow the government. ... The Second Treatise concerning Civil Government and the Declaration of Independence were both milestones for the whole idea of governments. ... They are not different in their views...

• Word Count: 863
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

What is meant by this, is that government should stay out of the church's business. ... The constitution created this law to allow individuals as well as religious groups to be able to practice their faith, however they want with complete freedom without the interference from government as well as other groups. ... Although there is a separation of the wall between church and state, if America were to follow God's law rather than man's law, the majority of this conflict that comes about from blending both government and religion, would not exist. ... Man's law which is al...

• Word Count: 2044
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This bill allowed for an increased ability to wiretap and trace American telephones, e-mails, medical, financial, and other records and weakened restrictions on law enforcement involving terrorism. In other words, if a law enforcement official felt terrorist activity was to potentially occur, he or she was permitted to do whatever possible to gather information about the potential risk. ... What's particularly troubling is the vagueness of the new capabilities of law enforcement. ... The United States government's passing of the Patriot Act ultimately disregards the Bill of Rights, m...

• Word Count: 1178
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

It was evident that there was a long line of abuse and corruption, where the laws necessary for common good were unable to be set out, because governors were forbidden to do so. People were unable to voice their opinion, for example, one was not able to question the government openly, when taxes increased. Citizens were not part of the decision process and anyone who questioned the government was revoked from power. ... To be interconnected through an ideal government, this would satisfy the needs of all Patriots. Many boycotted decisions made by the king such as obstructing the Administratio...

• Word Count: 524
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Furthermore, they institutionalized systems of local government, and public education . ... The Confederation Government, under the Articles, lacked an executive and judicial branch. ... These farmers pleaded with their state governments for help, but in most cases states refused to interfere, in one case in particular, these angered mobs of farmers rebelled against the government. ... In article 1, section 8, they empowered congress to regulate trade among states, raise revenue through taxation, coin national money, discontinue state coining, and enforce federal laws and treaties . The Consti...

• Word Count: 1074
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Libertarianism can trace its history as far back as sixth century BC philosopher Lao-tzu who accordingly stated "Without law or compulsion, men would dwell in harmony." (6:27) Nevertheless, Libertarianism as it pertains to the United States struck a cord with Americans under the despotic colonial rule of Great Britain. ... John Locke was the first to propose the idea that individuals are borne with natural rights prior to the existence of government and it is the government that ought to safeguard those rights. ... Jefferson clearly declared on paper that all men hold certain rights, which...

• Word Count: 7038
• Approx Pages: 28
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The British government of the time favored a policy of mercantilism, although laws such as the Navigation Act were only loosely enforced to regulate commerce in the British interest. ... The government was not getting any respect and when it became apparent that the government was, in the words of George Washington, "little more than the shadow without the substance", the call came for a stronger federal government. ... This list includes such things as the refusal to "assent to laws", endeavors to prevent the "population of these states", obstruction to the administration of justice, the im...

• Word Count: 2128
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In contrast, however, the Articles of Confederation did provided an effective form of government with respect to Western lands. The confederation had been purposely constructed to be weak and secondary to the state governments. The lack of centralized authority of the confederation government provided a troublesome solution with respect to the economic conditions of the government. ... In 1786, Rhode Island's state legislature passed laws requiring paper currency to be accepted at full value, causing inflation in the economy. ... Second, he insisted that the new states have representati...

• Word Count: 722
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

They consisted of six acts, among them were, the Boston Port Act, "to discontinue, in such manner, and for or such time as are therein mentioned, the landing and discharging, lading or shipping, of goods, wares, and merchandise, at the town, and within the harbor, of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, in North America"; the Massachusetts Government Act, "for the better regulating the government of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England", the Administration of Justice Act, "for the impartial administration of justice in the case of persons quest...

• Word Count: 1859
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The only function of government according to this doctrine is to protect life, liberty, and property." ... Turgot's successors, following a mercantilist policy of government intervention, only made the French economy worse. ... We need a government like England's, he said. ... Twenty-eight days later, the Assembly showed they did not intend to do so: the government confiscated all church property in France. ... Curriculum was controlled totally by the central government. ...

• Word Count: 2777
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Usually, revolutions come a bout from a radical sect of people would disagree with the status quo and rebel, sometimes very violently, against their government. ... The evil in this law lies in the fact that no evidence of probable cause is necessary to search. ... Another example the conservative political nature of this revolution is the absence of physical violence against government officials. ... Some of the tax burden to raise the funds for the government and soldiers was put on the colonies. ... The British government infringing on the rights and philosophies of their North American...

• Word Count: 1221
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

He is most famous his influential ideas one of his most famous for his natural laws which were life liberty and property. Now these had a big deal during the French revolution in how they form the new style of government. ... Which John Locke's ideas of natural laws helped because he believed that if a government fails to provide the citizens with these laws that the citizens have the right to overthrow the government. In keys that's basically what caused the French Revolution is that people wanting to have basically a new form of government where there are more in control. Liberty ...

• Word Count: 614
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In his view, government was the product of God, the power of government was given by God. ... It saw the state's purpose as to execute God's moral laws, to protect God's faith, and to further of God's truth. God had given a revealed law through scripture and enjoined his creatures to live the lives of virtue and morality. ... In his view, the liberal state led to the changes in the ideas about the laws. For Locke and the American founders, providing laws was the best way to protect the civil rights. ...

• Word Count: 924
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This made it difficult to pass a law, and nearly impossible to amend one. ... However they could not regulate commerce, collect taxes, or enforce laws. ... It set up three federal branches of government to help separate the power. The people feared a corrupted, too powerful government that would oppress this people. ... The Constitution also created the Executive branch and gave them the right to enforce laws, not allowed in the Articles. ...

• Word Count: 732
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Prior to the Revolution, American colonists were upset with the growing tensions between the British rulers and government, and the American colonists, which led to changes being brought about in American becoming a more independent society, as well as governmental reforms being put into place changing the governmental system from an absolute monarchy to a more democratic government, which led to lasting effects which can be seen in the values of the American society today. ... There were many radicals in the American colonies who wanted a new system of government. ... The people started wa...

• Word Count: 946
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Our modern laws are supposed to support our rights to pursuit of happiness, yet the laws that are created have guidelines for people to be welcomed here. ... Secondly, our modern laws do not support our right to life because laws are created like: abortion, and the death penalty. ... Also, modern laws fail to support what the Declaration of Independence grants its citizens, which is the state of being free within a society from restrictions imposed by authority like the government. ... People of certain races seem to have been targeted more, and the governments' justice system is failing....

• Word Count: 511
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Many accusations were leveled at the British government, and in particular, it's head, King George III, among them being; "cutting off [America's] Trade with all parts of the world, imposing Taxes on [the colonies] without [their] Consent, taking away [the colonies"] Charters, abolishing [their] most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of [their] Governments, suspending [their] own Legislatures, and declaring themselves (England) invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever." But perhaps the most important of these accusations and that which is ...

• Word Count: 1820
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Liberty, too, is a Divine gift, but is protected by a just government. ... Jefferson, in setting up his model government, presents this responsibility of government, which sets the standard for the United States, and all other countries as well. ... Government is set up to maintain "safety and happiness" as well. This usage implies that while government must not stifle its citizens, it must set up responsible laws and policies to protect the people. Jefferson thus sets up this tension in government's responsibilities On the one hand, government cannot be too restrictive, but on the oth...

• Word Count: 580
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

A Comparison of the State of Nature between: Hobbes, Leviathan & Locke, Second Treatise of Civil Government Final Draft The state of nature is a traditional starting point for many political thinkers attempting to develop, from the natural state of man, some theory about society and politics. ... In the Leviathan and the Second Treatise of Civil Government, Hobbes and Locke, respectively, both ground their political philosophies at the same location: the state of nature, meaning the natural condition of mankind prior to any artifice such as government. ... Where there is no common Pow...

• Word Count: 4512
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The political philosophy of Locke's adult years stemmed from the commonly accepted natural law, under which man had natural rights, not given by any ruler. ... John Locke had favored representative government and a rule of law. ... If the government ever took away or mistreated the rights of the people they can rise up against their government. ... There should a known law understood by all people to be the standard of right and wrong and use them to decide controversies between them.In this state of nature there should be a judge with athourity to decide all differinces according to the ...

• Word Count: 1108
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In the Second Treatise of Civil Government written in 1689 by John Locke, Locke implies that individuals' personality and possessions is free if they are within the law of nature and not bounded by others individuals like Britishers. Locke states that individuals should fight for their freedom if the government is misusing their rights. ... He believes that laws would be submitted in favor and profit of Britishers. ... Many laws like cutting off trade with other parts of the world, imposing taxes without consent of colonies, creating commotion in towns and many more. ... Locke's Seco...

• Word Count: 545
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate