| A | B |
|---|
| Hammurabi's Code | First set of written laws were carved into 8 foot tall slabs to symbolize that nobody is above the law! |
| Greece | Had the first Direct Democracy |
| Rome | Had the first Representative Democracy (or Republic) |
| Middle East | Had the first form of government |
| Articles of Confederation | The first attempt at a government after the American Revolution- it made a "loose confederation of states" |
| Popular Sovereignty | The people hold all the power in government |
| Checks and Balances | The three branches are not entirely separated nor completely independent of one another, rather, they are tied together by a complex system of checks and balances. Each branch has certain powers and is subject to constitutional checks (restraints) by the other branches. |
| Seperation of Powers | The three branches of government are separate. The Legislative Branch (Congress) makes the laws. The Executive Branch (President and his cabinet) carry out the laws. The Judicial Branch (Court system) interprets and applies the laws. |
| Limited Government | No government is all-powerful. The government may only do those things that the people have given it the power to do. |
| Judicial Review | The power of courts to determine whether what government does is in accord with what the Constitution says. |
| Federalism | Division of power between the central government and local government. |
| Direct Democracy | The people directly elect politicians. |
| Representative Democracy | The people elect people to elect people... |
| Article I of the Constitution | The Legislative Branch (Congress) |
| Article II of the Constitution | The Executive Branch (President) |
| Article III of the Constitution | Judicial Branch (Courts) |
| Article IV of the Constitution | Relations among the states |
| Article V of the Constitution | Amending the Constitution |
| Article VI | National debts, supremacy of national law, and oaths of office |
| Article VII | Ratifying the Constitution |
