1. Goals of Good Government: 8 Principles

2. Natural Rights Inalienable human freedoms to life, liberty and property that government has the responsibility to protect.

3. Checks and Balance The distribution and balancing of power among different branches of government so that no branch is able to dominate the others.

4. Equal Protection Government may not arbitrarily discriminate against persons when applying the law.

5. Common Good (Republicanism) The good of the community as a whole or the common welfare. Republican government elects representatives who make decisions based on the common good or the public welfare.

6. Rule of Law (Due Process) Conformity of the legal system to explicit standards which are fairly and equally applied to all participants in a society. (page 28)

7. Legislative Supremacy A system of government where the most democratic branch has the most power. Government of this type reflects the wants and needs of the most people in a society.

8. Protection from the Tyranny of the Majority, (page 58) ·"When the majority pursues its own selfish interest at the expense of the rights of others"

9. Limited Government A system that limits itself to the protection of Natural Rights. “absolute power corrupts absolutely”

10. Mason’s Objections

11. Senators are Selected by State Legislators not by vote Criticism: They are not representative of the people. Any Balance within government will be destroyed because the House will virtually control all parts of government.

12. No Council to Advise the President ·Criticism: Experts needed to run the government who are better able to serve what is best for society of what’s most popular and more likely to criticize freely.

13. A simple majority is all that is needed in making commercial laws Criticism: A two thirds majority would better protect smaller states from the self-interest larger states.

14. Constitution had no Bill of Rights ·Criticism: Personal Liberties are not enumerated and therefore will not be protected adequately

15. President Can Pardon Criticism: The President can protect those who do not support him. The law does not have to be applied equally. He place himself and his supporters above the law.

16. Treaties made without House Approval Criticism: Important Government actions do not have the Mandate of the People through their most representative body.

17. National Courts Overrule State Courts Decisions Criticism: Only Rich People have access to Federal Courts because of the great expense in traveling.

18. Too much power given to the Federal Government Criticism: The Necessary and Proper Clause gives the Government too much power can abuse its power by being too large. It can punish its enemies. It can show favoritism to its friends.