Core Democratic Values and Where They Originate in Our Founding Documents
Legend for Document Codes
|
DI |
Declaration of Independence |
|
PC |
Preamble of US Constitution |
|
C |
United States Constitution |
|
BR |
Bill of Rights/Amendments |
|
PA |
Pledge of Allegiance |
|
GA |
Gettysburg Address |
|
MO |
Military Oath |
|
PO |
Presidential Oath |
Life
|
DI |
“...endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life...” |
|
PC |
“...provide for the common defense...” |
|
C |
“...and shall protect each of them against invasion...and...against domestic Violence.” (Art IV, Sec. 4) |
|
BR |
“...nor shall any State deprive any person of life...” (Amendment XIV) |
Liberty
|
PA |
“...with liberty and justice for all.” |
|
PC |
“...Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity...” |
|
DI |
“...unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty...” |
|
GA |
“...conceived in Liberty, and...” (Par. 1) |
Pursuit of Happiness
|
DI |
“...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” |
Common Good
|
PC |
“...promote the general Welfare...” |
Justice
|
PA |
“...with liberty and justice for all.” |
|
PC |
“...establish justice...” |
Equality
|
DI |
“...that all men are created equal...” (2nd paragraph) |
|
GA |
“...and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal...” (1st paragraph) |
Diversity
|
C |
(Amendment XV, Sec. 1) “...on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” (the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged) |
Truth
|
C |
“...make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...” (1st Amendment) |
|
DI |
“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal...” |
Popular Sovereignty
|
DI |
“...it is the Right of the people to abolish it...” (4th paragraph) |
|
DI |
“...deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...” (3rd paragraph) |
|
C |
“...are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” (10th Amendment) |
Patriotism
|
PA |
“I pledge allegiance to the flag...” |
|
MO |
“...that I will bear true faith and allegiance...” |
|
PO |
“...preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the...” (Constitution, Art. II, Sec. 1, last paragraph) |
Rule of Law
|
C |
“...under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land...” (Art. VI, Par.2) |
Separation of Powers
|
C |
“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress...” (Art. I) |
|
C |
“The executive Power shall be vested in a President...” (Art. II) |
|
C |
“The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in...” (Art. III) |
Representative Government
|
C |
“...composed of members chosen every second year, by the People...” (Art. I, Sec. 2) |
|
GA |
“...government of the people, by the people, for the people...” (last sentence) |
Checks and Balances (Some of many examples in the Constitution, Articles I-V, follow:)
|
C |
“The Senate shall have the sole power to try all Impeachments.” (Art. I, Sec. 3) |
|
C |
“...he shall have the Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons...” (Art. II, Sec. 2) |
|
C |
“He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of Senators present concur...” (Art. II, Sec.2) |
Individual Rights
|
BR |
“...peaceably to assemble.” (1st Amend.) “...nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property...” (5th Amend.) (There are many others, including freedom of speech, press, etc. in Amendments 1-10.) |
|
DI |
“...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” (Par. 2) |
Freedom of Religion
|
BR |
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” (1st Amendment) |
|
DI |
“...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” (Article VI, last sentence) |
Federalism
|
C |
“The powers not delegated to the United States...are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” (Amendment X) |
Civilian Control of the Military
|
C |
“The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States and the militia of the several states.” (Art. II, Sec. 2) |