updated vocab

1. 10.2.2 VOCABULARY REFERNCE SHEET
Magna Carta The Magna Carta (“Great Charter”) is a document guaranteeing English political liberties
that was drafted at Runnymede, a meadow by the River Thames, and signed by King
John on June 15, 1215, under pressure from his rebellious barons.
English Bill of Rights The English Bill of Rights was an act signed into law in 1689 by WilliamIII and Mary II,
who became co-rulers in England after the overthrow of King James II. The bill outlined
specific constitutional and civil rights and ultimately gave Parliament power over the
monarchy.
American Declaration
of Independence
Declaration of Independence, in U.S. history, document that was approved by the
Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and that announced the separation of 13 North
American British colonies from Great Britain.
French Declaration of
the Rights of Man and
Citizen
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, French Declaration des Droits de
l’Homme et du Citoyen, one of the basic charters of human liberties, containing the
principles that inspired the French Revolution. Its 17 articles, adopted between August
20 and August 26, 1789, by France’s National Assembly, served as the preamble to the
Constitution of 1791. Similar documents served as the preamble to the Constitution of
1793 (retitled simply Declaration of the Rights of Man) and to the Constitution of 1795
(retitled Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man and the Citizen).
U.S. Bill of Rights Bill of Rights, in the United States, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution,
which were adopted as a single unit on December 15, 1791, and which constitute a
collection of mutually reinforcing guarantees of individual rights and of limitations on
federal and state governments.
Democracy a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state,
typically through elected representatives.
Revolution a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favor of a new system

2. Monarchy a form of government with a monarch at the head (a sovereign head of state, especially
a king, queen, or emperor)
Rule of Law the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and
established laws.
Due process of law fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
Individual liberty the liberty of those persons who are free from external restraint in the exercise of those
rights which are considered to be outside the province of a government to control
Limited government A limited government is one whose legalized force and power is restricted through
delegated and enumerated authorities. Countries with limited governments have fewer
laws about what individuals and businesses can and cannot do. In many cases, such as
the United States, it is a constitutionally limited government, bound to specific
principles and actions by a state or federal constitution.
Consent of the
governed
A condition urged by many as a requirement for legitimate government: that the
authority of a government should depend on the consent of the people, as expressed
by votes in elections.