compact
an official agreement made by two or more parties
Common Sense
a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in 1776 to convince the American colonists to support becoming independent from England
English Bill of Rights
a government document that expanded the powers of the English Parliament and expanded the rights of the people, as well as further limited the rights of the king; written by the members of the English Parliament in 1689
due process
the idea that people have the right to fair and reasonable laws, and that government leaders and officials have to follow rules when enforcing laws and treat all people in the same way
limited government
a government that has been limited in power by a constitution, or written agreement
limited monarchy
a system of government in which the king or queen shares authority with an elected legislature and agrees to be bound by a constitution or a set of laws, also known as a constitutional monarchy
Magna Carta
a government document that limited the power of the king of England and protected the rights of the nobility; written by the English nobles in 1215
Mayflower Compact
an agreement between individuals that created a government that would provide order and protect the rights of the colonists; written by a group of English Puritans in Massachusetts in 1620
Preamble
the introduction to the U.S. Constitution
rights
a set of things that people believe they should be free to do without restrictions
rule of law
a concept that those who govern are bound by the laws; no one is above the law
self-government
popular or representative system where the people create and run their own government
Thomas Paine
the colonial journalist who wrote Common Sense in 1776