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The constitution was planned on certain
principles (basic truth, law, or assumption)
The 6 principles are
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Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Judicial Review
Federalism
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The Preamble of the Constitution begins with
this bold phrase: “We the people….” These
words tell people that in the US, the people
establish the government and give it its
power.
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Definition: people hold all power because
they elect the leaders of the national and
state governments
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The Constitution sets limits on the power the
government has
Government must obey the law according to
the principles of the Constitution
The government and its officers are never
above the law
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Government power is not only limited; it is
also divided
Constitution assigns power to each of the
three branches
Legislative (Congress)- makes the laws
Executive (President)- enforces the laws
Judicial (Federal Courts)- interprets the laws
Separation of powers prevents a misuse of
power by any of the three branches
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Limits are placed on each branch to prevent
one branch from becoming too powerful
These limits extend the restrictions
established by the separation of powers
Branches have the authority to restrain the
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Prevents tyranny by one branch
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actions of either of the two branches
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Supreme Court decides whether a branch has
overstepped their limits
They review the governmental actions and
cancel (nullify) any that are unconstitutional
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Definition: government system in which
power is divided between the national and
state governments
Both levels have their own agencies and pass
laws that affect citizens
Helps keep the national government powerful
but not too powerful to threaten the state
governments