...science. Five important concepts eventually formed the core of their philosophy: Reason, Nature, Happiness, Progress, and Liberty One of the most brilliant and influential of the philosophes was Voltaire. He published more than 70 books on politics, essays, philosophy, history, fiction, and drama. Voltaire never stopped fighting for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech. Many of his beliefs were adopted into the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. Another influential philosophe was the Baron de Montesquieu. He devoted himself to the study of political liberty. Montesquieu studied the history of ancient Rome, and concluded that Rome’s collapse was directly related to its loss of political liberties. Because of its balance of power between three groups of officials, he believed Britain was the best-governed country of his day. The British king and his ministers held executive power, they carried out the laws of the state. The members of Parliament held legislative, or law making power. The Judges of each applied to a specific case. Montesquieu called this the separation of powers. Even though he oversimplified how exactly it all worked, his book, On the Spirit of Laws, greatly influenced how America’s government would work. So much so that checks and balances became the basis for the United States Constitution. A third philosophe that was a huge influence is Jean Jacques Rousseau. He was very passionately committed to individual...
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...Constitution Paper 07/30/13 US/110 University of Phoenix The Articles of Confederation was the first known Constitution in the United States History. The Unites States Article of Confederation was created based on the American Revolutionary War. That sole purpose of this plan was to fight for certain freedoms during the war; however, it had many flaws that decreased the chances of the Articles becoming successful. The Articles did not give regulations concerning trade or taxation. It even called for a weak executive team which made to enforce legislation. The Articles of Confederation's greatest weakness, however, was that it had no direct origin in the people themselves–it knew only state sovereignty. There was no unity. Each state had the option to build their own military, create their own currency, and collect their own taxes. With this plan of government, it would be impossible for the federal government to govern effectively and efficiently due to the lack of power that they had over the states. The only power that the federal government had was to generate treaties and control foreign policy. They eventually realized that this plan was not going to work. There were thirteen states at this point. The federal government realized that it was hard to pass amendments due to the fact that they could not agree on anything. As a result, the constitution was created. The constitution is a written statement outlining the basic laws or principles by which a country or organization...
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...Debate Analysis Federalist 10: According to Madison, The Constitution establishes a government that can control the chaos caused by factions–groups formed by people who want to protect and promote their own economic and political views. However, he says that the efforts made to control these factions have been ineffective, and must therefore be accepted as part of human nature. The representative form of government set up by the framers would make the chances of the a bad faction coming into power less likely in a country as large as the US, as there will be more representatives chosen by a greater number of citizens and making it more difficult for potential candidates to deceive the people. Furthermore, Madison argues that in large republics, while the number of factions will be large, they will generally be weaker than in small, direct democracies, where it is much easier for factions to increase their strength and influence. Federalist 18: Madison’s goal in this paper is to determine the downsides of a system of government where multiple sovereigns are under a weak central government. According to Madison, the ancient Greek republics under the...
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...since this was when the supreme law of the United States was signed into action. This happening brought about the conclusion of an era in which the federal government was too weak and was replaced with one known driven by The Constitution, a piece of legislation that was adequate and fulfilled the needs of this newly formed country. As a prolonged and arduous war ended against one of the world’s greatest superpowers, the Continental Congress of the United States of America began drafting its first constitution in mid-1776, they became known as the “Articles of Confederation.” Less than a decade later an uprising led by Daniel Shays, a former revolutionary, arose when the people became discontent with the current conditions the country was in and blamed their dissatisfaction on the government. (Curtis) These farmers were in poor and in debt, and although the rebellion was swiftly crushed, it demonstrated how powerless the government really was and proved that imperative action was necessary to rectify the issues that were currently afflicting the young nation. The fact that the Articles of Confederation failed was actually a positive outcome, since it was held in place for 10 years it served as a good guideline for what was needed. It was a big risk since they had no idea if it was going to work out, but the founding fathers then went forward to draft a constitution that has served as the law for the last 200 years. This new constitution made the federal government much more...
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...There were many differences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. At the end of the American Revolution, the free states needed some of control that would generate to a unified country. Issues were that the people want equal rights, and a new government. Their first attempt at solving this issue was the Articles of Confederation, which was a failure for the most part, but not completely. After the failure of the articles, the state delegates tried to revise the articles, but instead, constructed the Constitution. There were so many changes made and very little remained the same. Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution had a greater sense of central government. In the Constitution a president was the executive. The president was the person that can approve or veto the new rules. After gaining independence from Great Britain, the United States was operating under the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.” Under the Articles, the states retained sovereignty over all governmental functions that were not relinquished to the federal government. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier...
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...To replace the British system of government, the new nation needed to form a governing body and begin to rebuild the colonies after the Revolutionary War. The first attempt at providing the new fledging nation with such a government was established around The Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation were developed and written in Philadelphia at the second meeting of the Continental Congress in 1777. The Articles were ratified and became effective in 1781. However, their existence was short lived as major flaws, limitations and discrepancies were mounting. These gave way to the Articles being scrapped altogether and a new governing document being written called the U.S. Constitution. Many have called the Articles of Confederation America's first failure at government. Unification The articles of the confederation was a weak attempt at best, by a new country to try an unite itself and form a government of its own after overthrowing the British tyranny of the previous decade. Under the Articles of Confederation each state had the right to make its own rules and laws, separate from the central government. There was no taxing powers given to Congress, Congress had no power over interstate or foreign commerce. Each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of the states size or population. That in itself was a problem for the larger states who had bigger populations, who were expected to contribute more but still only had one vote. Any amendments...
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...Hamilton felt that a nation formed on manufacturing would be best due to its newfound potential in England and other regions of the world. This choice seemed strange due to the fact that the majority of all nations were based on agriculture at the time. However, manufacturing showed to be working positively in England as their textile industry greatly increased upon the introduction of new machines and technology. And, keeping the United States unchanged throughout its history would certainly lead to failure. As said by Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw, “Progress is impossible without change…” This is obvious. And, since manufacturing and large scale industry seemed to be the new successful thing, it would be an easy choice to support in our nation. Hamilton also wanted to protect our current industries as well as new ones by introducing tariffs to promote sales in the US. This concept would increase the cost of foreign products, so buying local products would be more reasonable. With more local purchases, our economy would do much better and foreign economies would be damaged, putting us at a greater position. Finally, Hamilton’s introduction of a central bank would create a better economy for the whole United States. If well monitored, this system would be a reliable management of our economy. It could earn our whole nation money, and also start new businesses...
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...George Washington, being the first President, not only guided the United States the eight years he was President, but founded the way for future presidents to follow. He is widely noted as the most famous President, as we still abide by his rules and conduct today. George Washington believed in running the country as an "elected president", not an elected "monarch".Of the forty-four Presidents that we have had, each has followed the strict precedents that Washington set for his prized country. Of the eight precedents that he set total, four have surfaced as most vital to the success of the country, at least in my eyes. The organization of the Executive Branch was the first hurdle conquered by Washington and his administration. While the Constitution established the Executive Branch, it did not lay down the guidelines of how it should be ran. The Presidential Cabinet was formed under the Executive Branch and it was based on three different principles. The three principles are, appointing the best people under him as possible, using the cabinet as a group of advisors, and creating a department of defense and having the Attorney General assist the Administration in handling legal matters. All three of these principles still apply to how the government is ran today. Foreign Policy has been an ongoing positive attribution to society as trade provides stabilization in the economy. Washington believed that the United States should have free trade with other countries and that the expansion...
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...Thomas Jefferson was who authored extraordinary words and it was there words that changed a nation. Jefferson’s ability to write made him prominent author of write the Declaration of Independence, (among other significant works). Jefferson’s writings reflected on the rights of mankind and what rights a government must offer its people. His use of words to fight for Human rights makes him one of the greatest American Hero’s. Thomas Jefferson’s writings on basic human rights caused a radical shift in American Colonist thoughts and these stunning ideas would influence the Americans to break away from Great Britain. “As a boy, Thomas Jefferson’s was shy and often tongue-tied…Preferred the company of books to that of most people.” (Wilmore, 1) These were words to describe the young Jefferson; his childhood would prove to be a key in shaping the man, who through his words would change a nation. Jefferson was born on April 13th 1743, in Shadwell Virginia. During his childhood he would spend 15 hours each day reading and writing, this would prove to make his writing skills at a high level (1). As he grew into an adult he would study law in his home of Virginia at the William and Mary College at Williamsburg (Bottorff, 15). During this time he would become a member of the Whig party and would advocate for the rights and liberties of mankind (Peterson, 1). It was in his childhood and as turned into an adult which he learned how to write and how to express his political views through words...
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...On February 1st 1945 women’s suffrage was finally introduced in Italy. On June 2nd 1946, Italian women voted for the first time for the national referendum, which was the choice between monarchy and republic, and for the constituent Assembly. Twenty-one women were elected and took part in creating the Italian Constitution . The women elected sustained the principles of equality and obtained important results regarding labor, wages and maternity. However women’s votes did not lead to an increase in their representation in Parliament. Starting from the year 1945, the amount of female members in the Parliament decreased, reaching a low stage in 1968, and that occurred because women were making up only 3 percent of deputies . Furthermore equal...
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...On balance, peaceful resistance to laws deemed unjust are provocative in nature, however, civil disobedience becomes necessary when considering how American progress did not result from inaction, but rather peaceful opposition. In other words, to sit idle and to watch the practice of unjust laws is contradictory to American values of liberty and justice. The Founding Fathers purposefully instilled civil disobedience as a crucial element to the American identity in order to protect the individual’s political beliefs. By forming this nation under one of man’s greatest creation - the Constitution - our Founding Fathers acknowledged that peaceful resistance positively impacts free society by preserving democracy and civil rights. Peaceful measures...
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...BENEFITS AND GAINS DERIVED FROM THE NEW (2010) CONSTITUTION IN COMPARISON TO THE OLD CONSTITUTION. The Constitution of Kenya was promulgated on 27 August 2010 after a period of more than twenty years in the making. The 2010 Constitution of Kenya marks the outcome of an arduous journey, necessitated by a constitutional development history that began during the pre-colonial period. Several issues have been a recurring theme, having found expression in the Independence Constitution; they underwent modifications during the ensuing years through amendments, resulting in dissatisfaction that eventually led to the demand for constitutional reform, culminating in the 2010 Constitution. Fundamental Principles of the Constitution. The 2010 Constitution of Kenya commences with a statement of the sovereignty of the people and the supremacy of the Constitution as some of the fundamental principles of the Constitution. In relation to identifying the source of all political power as the people of Kenya, the 2010 Constitution improves on the previous Constitution, which was silent as to the role of the people of Kenya in the constitution. In the 2010 Constitution, national values and principles of governance have been enshrined in Article 10. Although the previous Constitution incorporated values and principles, they were not explicitly stated as such but could be discerned from the provisions. Thus, values such as equity, equality, and non-discrimination can be identified in the Bill of Rights...
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...CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS LAW Session 1 – Introduction to Law/Australian Legal System _______________________________________________________________________________ 1. WHAT IS LAW? 1.1 Legal Terms A Law - A particular legal rule. The Law - A declaration of behaviour in our society. - A comprehensive and changing set of rules. Jurisprudence - The general principles underlying the law: the foundation for the making of the law. Natural Law - The principles of reason and justice which flow from the law of nature (or the law of God) and which form the foundation of our legal system. Religious Law - What is right and wrong? Rationalist Law - What is reason? 1.2 Foundation for Democratic Law Natural law is based on the notions of the laws of God and reason/common sense – ie, a combination of Religious and Rationalist law. We see direct examples of Christian teachings in our law. A notable example is the case of Donoghue v Stevenson which is a major case in the law of tort. John Locke explained that natural law involved a fundamental belief that all men are equal and will, therefore, equally respect and not harm each other. His view inspired the core principle of the American Declaration of Independence and, as a result, two of the most impacting speeches: American Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be...
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...Influences on the Constitution Marlene Monarrez HIS/301 December 3, 2012 Instructor: Andrew Van Ness Influences on the Constitution Table |Documents |Summary |What was its influence on the Constitution? | |Magna Carta | Issued by King John of England in 1215 when Englishmen went to the colonies they were | The Magna Carta gave Englishmen certain human rights, | | |given charters that guaranteed them and their heirs would “have and enjoy all liberties and |freedom of religion, reform of justice system and regulated | | |immunities of free and natural subjects.” The document clearly stated that no free man could|officials. The Magna Carta limited the king’s power and created | | |be prosecuted by any means other than the law of the land. |what we know today as parliament. | | |The Magna Carta had been the very first document which proclaimed personal liberties. The | | | |Magna Carta was forced upon an English Emperor by a team of barons. This had been the first |This was used as a template...
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...Era of Good Feelings The Era of Good Feelings was one in which the federalist dissolved thus leaving only one party; the republicans which left no room for party politics, this resulted into nationalism which was emphasized not only with that of Madison's letter but also the Star Spangled Banner, the Bonus Bill, the Monroe Doctrine, The Court Decisions of John Marshall and most importantly National Spirit through the U.S. After the win of James Monroe a Virginian Republican president nationalism was looked at through that of a great perspective wherein Monroe won 231 of the electoral vote verses Adams who only won 1 of the electoral vote.(Doc I-Presidential Election, 1820) Also as the war between American and Britain came to a halt there were some minor issues that took place however, both countries settled the disputes between each other rather than going to war. This is because the British had taken note to U.S. sovereignty, therefore the U.S. was able to put forth Nationalistic ideals seeing that one of the strongest European nations had now respected the sovereignty that we a young country had established. This was followed by a letter that Madison wrote to congress in 1815 which represented once again the spirit of National Pride. With such aspects of National ideals in place National Spirit could take place wherein flags, words, prominent symbols and slogans were used to increase Nationalism. There were many things done by two main people such as Henry Clay and John Sea...
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