28 terms
The 28 Principles of Liberty
Principle 1: Natural Law
The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law.
Principle 2: Virtuous and Morally Strong
A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.
Principle 3: Virtuous Leaders
The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.
Principle 4: Religion
Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained.
Principle 5: Equally Dependent and Equally Responsible
All things were created by God, therefore upon Him all mankind are equally dependent, and to Him they are equally responsible.
Principle 6: Men are Equal
All men are created equal.
Principle 7: The Proper Role of Government
The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.
Principle 8: Unalienable Rights
Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.
Principle 9: Divine Law
To protect man's rights, God has revealed certain principles of Divine Law.
Principle 10: Sovereign Authority of the Whole People
The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people.
Principle 11: Alter or Abolish Tyrannical Government
The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical.
Principle 12: Republic
The United States of America shall be a republic.
Principle 13: Constitution Protects from Human Frailties
A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers.
Principle 14: Right of Property
Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right of property is secure.
Principle 15: Free Market Economy
The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free market economy and a minimum of government regulations.
Principle 16: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
The government should be separated into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Principle 17: Checks and Balances
A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power.
Principle 18: Written Constitution
The unalienable rights of the people are most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a written constitution.
Principle 19: Limited and Carefully Defined Powers
Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained in the people.
Principle 20: Will of Majority, Rights of Minority
Efficiency and dispatch requite government to operate according to the will of the majority, but constitutional provisions must be made to protect the rights of the minority.
Principle 21: Strong Local Self-Government
Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom.
Principle 22: Governed by Law, not by Men
A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men.
Principle 23: General Education
A free society cannot survive as a republic without a broad program of general education.
Principle 24: No Survival without Strength
A free people will not survive unless they stay strong.
Principle 25: Friendship with All Nations
"Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations: entangling alliances with none."
Principle 26: The Core Unit is the Family
The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity.
Principle 27: Burden of Debt
The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest.
Principle 28: A Manifest Destiny
The United States has a manifest destiny to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race.