OBJECTIVE
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You will be able to define
and give examples of 3
principles of the U.S.
Constitution.
DO-FIRST
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Complete the “Judicial,
Executive, or Legislative”
fill in the blank sheet.
Separation of Powers!
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One of the ways the framers
of the Constitution made
SURE that the national
government wouldn’t
become too powerful was by
separating the powers within
the government!
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As we watch the video, be
ready to answer the
question: How is our
national government like
a three-ring circus?
Principles of the Constitution: DAY ONE
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So what exactly did this new “plan of government” look
like? We can break down the Constitution into 6 key
principles, or key ideas, which give specific guidelines on
how our government should operate.
The six principles are popular sovereignty, separation of
powers, checks and balances, limited government,
federalism, and republicanism.
In today’s lesson, we will look at three of the six
principles of the Constitution.
Principle #1: POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
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The framers of the Constitution begin this historic document
with the section called the Preamble. This section explains
reasons for creating this new government.
The Preamble begins with the words “We the People of the
United States of America…”—by starting the Constitution
with these words, the framers are announcing that the
authority of the government comes from the people.
This concept is called popular sovereignty. This is the idea that
the power to form a government does not come from a king
or supreme ruler—the power to create a government comes
from the people, from ordinary Americans.
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY:
Popular = people
Sovereignty = rule
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING:
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In the boxes, write the first few words of the
Constitution and then draw a picture that represents the
term “popular sovereignty”
Principle #2: SEPARATION OF POWERS
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The framers of the
Constitution, especially the
Anti-Federalists, were
terrified of creating a
federal (national)
government that would
become too powerful.
For this reason, they
decided to split up, or
separate, all of the
government’s power into
three different branches
Brain Pop!
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As we watch the
video on the 3
branches of
government, fill in
your graphic
organizer
Principle #3: CHECKS and BALANCES
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The framers of the Constitution knew that each branch
had a lot of power and responsibility.
To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful,
they created a system of “checks and balances.”
This system allows one branch to check (or stop) other
branches from having all of the power. This creates a
more balanced government!
Each branch of government is limited by the other 2
branches is different ways.
(As we finish the video fill in the example boxes below. In
the bubbles, write which branch is checking which
branch)
ACTIVITY: 3-Flap Foldable
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2.
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4.
5.
Follow the directions to create your foldable:
Fold along the lines and cut along the dotted lines to create
your 3 flap foldable.
On the space below each flap, write Legislative, Executive,
and Judicial.
On the front of each flap, draw a picture that represents that
branch of government.
Open up the flap. There are 2 boxes. In the top box, write
out all of the descriptors that go with that branch of
government. Use the descriptor list below and copy those
descriptors into the appropriate box.
In the bottom box, use your notes to write down examples
of how that branch checks the power of the other two
branches.
LIST OF DESCRIPTORS: Sort Them!
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Capitol Building
Supreme Court
White House
Decides if the laws are constitutional
9 justices
Made up of the House of Representatives and the
Senate
President, Vice President, and heads of departments
Carries out, approves, and recommends laws
Introduces bills and makes them into laws
Commander-in-chief of the armed forces
Their decisions overrule the decisions of city and
state courts
Can be in office for up to 8 years
Directs foreign policy