Question

name: kevin robinson
date: 8/27/15 period:
influences on u.s. government
the enduring influences of ancient greece, rome, the iroquois confederacy, and british government on the modern united states government are reflected in its democratic foundation, mechanisms of citizen participation and accountability, representative governance, the rule of law, federalism, protection of individual rights, concepts of federation, balanced powers, consensus - based decision - making, and justice for the common good. these legacies, including the magna carta and english bill of rights, have seamlessly shaped the us democratic identity.
directions: walking around the room, answer the following questions.
greek influence

1. what is a referendum, and how does it reflect greek influence in the us?
2. how did ancient greeces concept of electing leaders influence the us system?
3. what was the athenian model of direct democracy?

roman influence

1. discuss the historical trajectory from roman \ius civile\ to the natural law principles that shaped the us bill of rights.
2. what is the connection between roman jurisprudence and the protection of individual rights in the us?
3. compare the roman concept of federalism with the united states federal system, detailing the advantages of each.

iroquois influence

1. what is the concept of federation, and how did it affect the us federal system?
2. discuss the key principles of the iroquois great law of peace and how they align with the founding fathers ideals when crafting the us constitution.
3. evaluate the lasting impact of the iroquois confederacys political philosophy on the modern united states government, highlighting specific instances where their influence is still evident today.

british influence

1. compare and contrast the rule of law established by the magna carta with the concept of individual rights as seen in the english bill of rights.
2. analyze the impact of the british struggle between monarchy and parliament on the structure of the us government, focusing on the balance of powers.
3. how did the tensions between central authority and individual rights in british history contribute to the design of the us constitutions branches of government?

Explanation:

The questions explore the historical - political influences on the US government from various ancient and historical entities. They involve analyzing concepts like democracy, law, and federalism, and their evolution and impact on the US system.

Answer:

1. A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. In the US, elements of direct democracy like ballot initiatives and referendums at the state and local levels reflect the Greek influence of direct citizen participation.
2. Ancient Greece's concept of electing leaders, especially in the Athenian model of direct democracy, influenced the US system by promoting the idea of citizen - involvement in governance. However, the US has a representative democracy rather than pure direct democracy. In Athens, citizens directly voted on laws and decisions, while in the US, citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
3. The Athenian model of direct democracy was a system where eligible citizens directly participated in the decision - making process of the city - state. This influenced the US in the sense of promoting the importance of citizen participation, but the US adapted it into a representative democracy due to its large population and geographical size.

1. The historical trajectory from Roman "ius civile" (civil law) to the natural law principles that shaped the US Bill of Rights shows the evolution of legal concepts. Roman civil law was a comprehensive legal system for Roman citizens. The natural law principles in the US Bill of Rights, such as the protection of life, liberty, and property, have roots in the idea of universal and inherent rights, which can be traced back to the philosophical underpinnings of Roman law.
2. Roman jurisprudence emphasized the rule of law and the protection of individual rights. In the US, the legal system also places great importance on individual rights protection. Roman law provided a framework for legal reasoning and the concept of justice, which influenced the development of US legal thought. However, the US has a more complex and evolving legal system with a federal - state division of powers.
3. The Roman concept of federalism was different from the US federal system. In Rome, there was a central authority with some degree of autonomy for different regions or provinces. The US federal system has a more balanced division of powers between the federal government and the states, with a clear set of enumerated and reserved powers. The US system also has a system of checks and balances to prevent any one level of government from becoming too powerful.

1. A federation is a political entity in which a group of states or regions come together to form a central government while retaining some degree of autonomy. The Iroquois Confederacy's concept of federation influenced the US federal system by providing an example of a confederated structure with a balance between central and local governance.
2. The key principles of the Iroquois' Great Law of Peace include peace, equity, and justice. These principles align with the Founding Fathers' ideals when crafting the US Constitution in terms of promoting a just and peaceful society. For example, the idea of resolving disputes through peaceful means and ensuring equal rights for different groups is reflected in both.
3. The Iroquois Confederacy's political philosophy has had a lasting impact on the modern US government. For instance, the concept of a council of representatives from different tribes in the Iroquois Confederacy influenced the idea of a representative government in the US. Also, the emphasis on consensus - building in Iroquois decision - making can be seen in some aspects of US political processes.

1. The Magna Carta established the rule of law by limiting the power of the monarchy and ensuring certain rights and liberties for the barons and, over time, for the people. The English Bill of Rights further emphasized individual rights such as the right to petition the king, freedom from excessive bail, etc. While the Magna Carta was more about the relationship between the king and the nobility, the English Bill of Rights was a more explicit statement of individual rights.
2. The British struggle between monarchy and Parliament influenced the structure of the US government's balance of powers. The US adopted a system of separation of powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, similar to how the struggle in Britain led to a more balanced distribution of power between the executive (monarchy) and the legislative (Parliament) branches.
3. The tensions between central authority and individual rights in British history contributed to the design of the US Constitution's branches of government. The US Constitution was designed to protect individual rights while also providing for a strong central government. The system of checks and balances was put in place to ensure that the central government did not over - step its bounds and violate individual rights, drawing lessons from the British experience.