U.S. Government & Civics: Natural Rights, John
Locke, State of Nature, Due Process, Social
Contract, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Labor
Movement, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration
of Independence, Shays’s Rebellion, Articles of
Confederation, Federalist No. 51, Amendments 1-
10, Bicameral Legislature, New Jersey Plan,
Virginia Plan, Constitutional Convention, Three-
Fifths Compromise, Checks and Balances,
Separation of Powers, Federalism, Electoral
College, Impeachment, Gerrymandering Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
natrual rights
Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke
17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that
people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.
State of Nature
Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live
in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process
involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly. Such a requirement lessens the
extent to which government power can be exercised over the individual, making the power
differential between the two more fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality
Social Contract
A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a
government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
1|Page
,One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-
Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes argues that society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
Labor Movement
the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental
laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776)
asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787)
which almost resulted in potential mob rule, suggested there might be too much democracy at
play, and that maybe individual liberty was going too far
Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51
Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the
concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
2|Page
,Second Amendment
Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment
The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment
It protects people against unfair searches of their homes; search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes,
including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due
process of law.
Sixth Amendment
Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment
Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment
No cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment
peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment
Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to the federal gov. are reserved to the states
bicameral legislature
A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is
made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.
House of Representatives
the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each
state, depending on population
New Jersey Plan
3|Page
, Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan
Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention
Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to write the
Constitution of the United States.
unicameral legislature
One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise
Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in
the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in
order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers
Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with
the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the
judiciary interpreting the law
federal system
A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and
state or provincial governments
enumerated powers
The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.
reserved powers
Powers given to the state government alone
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They
firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights
because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.
4|Page
Locke, State of Nature, Due Process, Social
Contract, Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Labor
Movement, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration
of Independence, Shays’s Rebellion, Articles of
Confederation, Federalist No. 51, Amendments 1-
10, Bicameral Legislature, New Jersey Plan,
Virginia Plan, Constitutional Convention, Three-
Fifths Compromise, Checks and Balances,
Separation of Powers, Federalism, Electoral
College, Impeachment, Gerrymandering Exam
Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
natrual rights
Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke
17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that
people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.
State of Nature
Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence of government where human beings live
in "complete" freedom and general equality.
Due Process
involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly. Such a requirement lessens the
extent to which government power can be exercised over the individual, making the power
differential between the two more fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality
Social Contract
A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a
government and abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
1|Page
,One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of the social contract was a pre-
Enlightenment English philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes
Hobbes argues that society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
Labor Movement
the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's, for the workers to receive better treatment by
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental
laws that govern a society
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776)
asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787)
which almost resulted in potential mob rule, suggested there might be too much democracy at
play, and that maybe individual liberty was going too far
Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
Federalist no. 51
Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the
concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
2|Page
,Second Amendment
Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment
The government may not house soldiers in private homes without consent of the owner
Forth Amendment
It protects people against unfair searches of their homes; search and seizure.
Fifth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes,
including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due
process of law.
Sixth Amendment
Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment
Right to a trial by jury in civil cases
Eighth Amendment
No cruel and unusual punishment
Nineth Amendment
peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Tenth Amendment
Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to the federal gov. are reserved to the states
bicameral legislature
A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is
made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.
House of Representatives
the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each
state, depending on population
New Jersey Plan
3|Page
, Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan
Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention
Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to write the
Constitution of the United States.
unicameral legislature
One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise
Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in
the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in
order to prevent abuse of power
Separation of Powers
Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with
the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the
judiciary interpreting the law
federal system
A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and
state or provincial governments
enumerated powers
The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.
reserved powers
Powers given to the state government alone
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They
firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights
because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.
4|Page
