Part One, American Government and U.S. Constitution

Lesson 21: Government by Law, Not by Men

(Principle 22)	Name: _______________________

Part II: The Founders' Basic Principles –	28 Great Ideas that Changed the World

Lesson 21 Time: 29:01 [for Sunday, July 27, 2014]

The 5000 Year Leap: 22nd Principle, Reading Assignment: (pages 243-247);

Government by Law, Not by Men

Lesson objectives: As a result of this lesson, the student should be able to discuss the following questions/topics:

1. How can one tell when a nation is being ruled by the "whims of men"? (page 243)

Whims of Men

o nothing is dependable

o no rights are secure

o things are always in a constant state of flux

o nothing is predictable

2. Define law. In a free society, to whom should the law apply? (244)

Law is defined as "Rule of Action"

o binding on all people and rulers

o gives stable frame of reference

o one can make plans for the future

o rights and duties are defined

- security

- freedom from fear

- freedom to act

- sense of liberty

3. Why is there no liberty without law? (244)

[rulers are people who can and will change unwritten laws that remove liberty]

4. According to John Locke, what does law do for man? (244)

Locke

o Without fixed and enforceable law, man might as well be in the jungle.

o Natural man (man without law) is an enemy to God (Natural Law)

o men give up power to society they enter into

5. How did John Adams and Aristotle describe the blessings of fixed law? (244-45)

Aristotle [And Adams]

o Law is reason without passion

o preferable to any individual

6. What did Plato advocate as the best way to govern? (245)

Plato

["The Republic" – book he wrote founders sought for help, became rejected]

o Best society governed by people

o on the spot decisions

o force the people to do what is best (quote [-Locke would reject])

o [written] laws are second best

7. What's the basic difference between the founders' view of law and Plato's view? (246)

Locke

o Purpose of law is not to restrain

o but to enlarge and preserve

o Where there is no law, there is no freedom

8. How did the founders further clarify what good laws should be like? (246-47)

Good Law

o not so voluminous it can't be read

o understandable

o not too many changes

o Example of Jefferson

- rewrote civil and criminal codes of Virginia

– suggested for 2014, rewrite some of 1,000s of laws (state, local, or even federal!) today that could be simplified, then submit to legislative body for replacement/adoption.