DNA Strands of Limited Government
**Italicized phrases are DNA Strands**
HINT: Click on pictures to find out more about the subject!
HINT: Click on pictures to find out more about the subject!
Passed on June 7, 1628, the Petition of Right is an important English constitutional document that lays out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from dealing with. Underneath this document are four major points that prove that it limits the gov't: limiting the king's power, the king could not force military, the king could not require homeowners to provide shelter for soldiers, and each monarch must obey the law of the land. These four reasons are prime examples of how the power is limited from the gov't. The first example is plain and simple: the king's power is limited. Then it goes on to list two reasons of how his limited power is applied: he cannot force anything to do with the military and he cannot push soldiers into commoner's homes. The last example is that every head of gov't must obey the laws set for the land. For instance, the king has the same set of rules that the blacksmith does.
|
Proprietary colonies, just like royal and charter, were in the 17th century. The difference of this one, however, was that in a proprietary colony, land could be settled and governed as much as the owner chose. This limited how much the gov't had control of the land and what was on it.
|
Royal colonies, otherwise known as crown colonies, were ruled by a governor that was appointed by the monarch. Like the charter colonies, royal colonies were also in the 17th century. One thing that royal colonies were allowed the power of was to tax and spend. Although the word limited usually means things one can't do, in this case, limited means the opposite. Royal colonies were indeed allowed to tax the public and in turn, spend the money on what the monarch fit was appropriate.
|
The Albany Plan of 1754 was an early attempt of forming a union among the colonies under one gov't during the French and Indian War. One proposition was that among the colonies, they would regulate trade. This applies to limited gov't because the gov't is allowed to trade with the colonies, but to an extent. Both parties have to agree to trade; this way, the gov't cannot force the colonies to trade something of importance.
|
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting among the delegates of the Thirteen Colonies on May 10, 1775. One item that the SCC was responsible for was to do all of the things that gov't had restrictions on. This way, the gov't wasn't controlling the public, but someone still had rule over them and was able to govern what the gov't wasn't permitted to.
|
The Declaration of Independence stated that the people have the right to alter or abolish gov't that had become destructive. This declaration was signed on July 4, 1776 and was effective immediately. The sole purpose of this document was to establish separation from Britain; it also states that as a new nation, we have new rights and privileges. This applies to limited gov't because it says that if the gov't is abusing their power, the people can step in. If the gov't cares whether or not they are in office or not, they are going to make sure that they do everything possible to stay. If that means having limitations, they'll abide by the rules. This gives the people power, but also gives the gov't rules.
|
The First State Constitution says that elective terms cannot be more than two years. This limits the time that, for example, a president has in office. This is a prime example of limited gov't because it does limit the time that a gov't official has.
|