Six Principles of the Constitution

1
Six Principles of the Constitution

• The Constitution rests on six major principles of
  government.
• See page 65 in your textbook

2
Principles of Our Government

• Popular Sovereignty
• Federalism
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Judicial Review
• Limited Government

3
Popular Sovereignty

• Rule by the People
• The Preamble clearly states the WE THE PEOPLE,
  not the states or federal government have the
  ultimate power.
• Example We elect our officials and can fire them
  if we so desire.(re-elections)

4
Limited Government

• The government can only do what the people
  empowered it to do in the Constitution.
• Example The Constitution clearly states what
  each branch of government can and can not do and
  they must follow these rules.
• Example first 10 amendments set specific limits
  in areas of freedom of expression, personal
  security, and fair trials.

5
Separation of Powers

• The responsibilities of the government are
  divided among the executive, legislative and
  judicial branches.
• Example Separation of Powers insures that no one
  branch is too powerful. Each branch checks the
  other branches powers.

6
Checks and Balances

• Each branch limits the power of the other two.
• Example President appoints Supreme Court
  justices, but Senate must approve.
• Congress can impeach President or Supreme
  Court Justice for improper acts or bad behavior.

7
Judicial Review

• Since 1803 is has been established that the
  federal courts have the power to review acts of
  the legislative and executive branches. If the
  court decides that an act or law violates the
  Constitution, it can nullify (cancel) the act.
• Marbury vs Madison Supreme Court Case established
  Judicial Review.not in the constitution.
• Example Supreme Court declares a law
  unconstitutional.

8
Federalism

• Power shared between national and local
  governments. This system ensures that the
  national government is powerful enough to be
  effective, but that some powers (or functions)
  are reserved to the states and citizens
  themselves.
• Example State governments have their own
  constitutions and the Tenth Amendment reserved
  those powers not granted to the Federal
  Government to the states

9
Your Assignment

• Create flipbook summarizing the six principles of
  the Constitution.
• Fold your paper to create a flipbook
• Use pages 65 to 67 in your textbook.
• Under each heading write an explanation of each
  principle and provide and example of how it
  works.
• 20 points