What were the principles of government based upon?

Answer 1

do you mean our system? or government in general? In general, government is a necessary evil. And it only derives necessity from the need to protect the inalienable rights of man. Another way to understand its necessity is when anarchy is argued, the only defense someone has for government is that people's liberties and property must be protected. Our founding fathers originally intended our system of government to be based on the principles of equality. Equality - meaning each citizen is recognized as equal by the government and their rights protected equally, without regard to social status or wealth. It also implies that everyone is subject to the law of the land, including citizens in public office. But our government's system of function is based on many principles. The most prominent is the 'trias politica', which is known as the separation of powers. Another prominent principle - which lacks recognition today - is the basis of a 'constitutional republic', rather than a democracy. The founders understood that a government could not be trusted by men (democracy), and in order to protect the rights of the individual, and to keep the power of the government in check, it had to be subject to its own set of rules (constitution).