Paul Jones

Mrs. Quinn
G.A.L.R.E.
November 28, 2010
Lesson 7: Reviewing and Using the Lesson
1. What basic ideas about government were contained in the new state constitution?
Some of the basic ideas of government containts in the new state constitutions of the late 1700s
were higher law, popular sovereignty, social contract, representation, the right to vote,
legislative supremacy, and checks and balances
2. Explain the meaning and significance of the following concepts: (1) higher law, (2) popular
sovereignty, (3) legislative supremacy, and (4) checks and balances.
“Higher law” is a concept that certain rules and regulations are incontrovertible; it is significant
because the American Constitution is considered the law of laws, of which no government can
transcend or supersede. “Popular sovereignty” is the belief that the legitimacy of the state is
created by the will or consent of its people; the American government is the servant of the
people for the people. “Legislative supremacy” is the concept that a legislative body has
absolute sovereignty, meaning it is supreme to all other government institutions. This is
contrasted with “checks and balances”, which appeals to counterbalancing influences by which
an organization or system is regulated.
3. What were the most significant differences between the Massachusetts constitution and the
other state constitutions?
The Massachusetts constitution had a sophisticated system of division of power by checks and
balances. It was written in chapters, sections, and articles, not merely a list of provisions.
4. What important ideas did the Virginia Declaration of Rights contain? How was this document
influence thought the colonies?
The important ideas in the Virginia Declaration of Rights are as follows: (1) “All men are by
nature equally free and independent,” (2) “All power is derived from and kept b the people,” (3)
“Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit,” and (4) “All men are
equally entitled to the free exercise of religion.”
5. Examine the declaration of rights in your state constitution. How does this list of rights limit
state government?