Principles of the Constitution
Separation of Powers / Checks and
Balances
Our Purpose
• Understand what the principles of mean.
Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
• Understand why the Founding Fathers would have
wanted to include Separation of Powers and
Checks and Balances in the Constitution.
• Prepare to analyze how these principles are
reflected in the Constitution.
What Will You Need?
• Popular Sovereignty Note
Sheet
• Pen or Pencil
• Remember to pause, stop
or rewind as you need in order
to complete your note sheet.
What is it?
Stop and see if you can explain out loud what these
principles are. Don’t just read from the screen. Do
you get it? If not, reread and try again. Circle any
words on your sheet that you don’t understand and
look them up at dictionary.com if you need to.
Read the paragraph below.
Draw a picture or
symbol here of
what these 2
principles mean to
you.
Basic Understanding
Basic Understanding
In a government that subscribes to the principle of popular sovereignty, the PEOPLE have all
of the power
King
III,does
they
to ensure
that one
This After
phrase experiencing
means that anything
theGeorge
government
orwanted
can do is because
the people
wantperson
it that way.
Consent
means
“approval”
so
the
government
exists
only
with
the
approval
of
those
it
governs.
or group couldn’t be all powerful.
In order to have checks and balances, the government first has to be split
into separate powers. It wouldn’t work otherwise.
Historical Context
Think about?
• What do you already know
about Montesquieu?
• What were his beliefs?
Historical Context
Government should be
split into 3 branches to
keep one part of it from
becoming too powerful.
Fill out this chart with the 3
branches of government and
their powers based on your
separation of powers notes
from yesterday.
Use a copy of the
Constitution and answer
this on your own?
Where do we find examples of
Separation of Powers and Checks and
Balances in the Constitution?
Answer this question of your own
What does this mean?
How is the beginning of the Constitution structured?
Law
Making
List at
least 3
other
examples
from
checks
and
balances
triangle
Answer on your own.