The Structure and
Principles of Government
U.S. Constitution…What is it???
In 1787, our Founding Fathers constructed a new
system of government.
The new form of government needed a guide…or
rule book if you will.
Together, they created the United States
Constitution which is based on seven ideas of how
the government and people should co-exist.
We call these ideas the Seven Principles of
Government. Picture these seven principles as
building blocks that our country would be built
on.
So, our Constitution is the supreme law of the
United States…
This presentation will help you understand the
structure of our government and the 7 principles
that our constitution established
7 Principles of Government
1. Republicanism
2. Popular Sovereignty
3. Federalism
4. Limited Government
5. Separation of Powers
6. Checks and Balances
7. Individual Rights
Constitution Interesting Facts
• In the 1700’s 90% of all Americans had a basic understanding of the
principles in the constitution. Today, that number is between 10-20%.
• The U.S. Constitution has 4,400 words. It is the oldest and shortest written
Constitution of any major government in the world
• About 4,000 of these words describe the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
Branches and how they are to operate.
• Of the spelling errors in the Constitution, “Pensylvania” above the signers’
names is probably the most glaring
• Because of his poor health, Benjamin Franklin needed help to sign the
Constitution. As he did so, tears streamed down his face
• The Constitution was “penned” by Jacob Shallus, A Pennsylvania General
Assembly clerk, for $30 ($726 today) although, James Madison is
considered “Father of the Constitution”
What about
Texas?
When it came time for the Texas founding fathers to draft our
own constitution, they looked to a shining example of
democracy… the U.S. Constitution.
So the structure and function (what our government does) is a
reflection of the United States government.
Constitution Comparison
U.S
Texas
• Created: 1787 (ratified
1789)
• Preamble
• 7 Articles
• Bill of Rights and
Amendments (27)
• Created: 1876 (has had 6
different constitutions)
• Preamble
• Bill of Rights
• 17 Articles (approx. 80,000
words total)
• Amendments (over 500)
PRINCIPLE 1:
REPUBLICANISM
How Are People’s Views Represented in Government?
The Framers of the Constitution wanted the people to have a voice in
government. Yet the Framers also feared that public opinion might stand in the
way of sound decision making. To solve this problem, they looked
to republicanism as a model of government.
In Republicanism, the people exercise their power by voting for their
political representatives to represent them and make laws.
An important part of Republicanism is the idea that citizens stay informed about
politics and participate in the process by voting.
PRINCIPLE 2:
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
Who Gives the Government Its Power?
“We the people of the United States . . .establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.” These words from the Preamble, or introduction, to
the Constitution clearly spell out the source of the government’s power: The
People.
The American form of government emphasizes freedom, democracy, and the
importance of the individual. The Constitution rests on the idea of popular
sovereignty--a government in which the people rule.
How do people rule???
By VOTING!
PRINCIPLE 3:
FEDERALISM
How Is Power Shared?
The Framers wanted the states and the nation to become partners in
governing. To build cooperation, the Framers turned to federalism. Federalism
is a system of government in which power is divided between a central
government and smaller political units, such as states.
The Constitution assigns certain
powers to the national
government. These are delegated
powers. Powers kept by
the states are reserved powers.
An example of this would be that
the national government set the
minimum voting age for every
state, and the states set the
minimum driving age in their own
state.
PRINCIPLE 4:
LIMITED GOVERNMENT
How Is Abuse of Power Prevented?
The Framers restricted the power of government. This is known as the
principle of Limited Government.
The principle of limited government is closely related to the “rule of law”: In the
American government everyone, citizens and powerful leaders alike, must obey
the law. Individuals or groups cannot twist or bypass the law to serve their own
interests.
SEPARATION OF POWER
PRINCIPLE 5:
How Is Power Divided?
The Framers were concerned that too much power might fall into the hands of a
single group. To avoid this problem, they built the idea of separation of powers
into the Constitution. This Separation of Powers means the division of basic
government roles into THREE branches. No one branch is given all the
power or too much power. Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution detail
how powers are split among the three branches.
PRINCIPLE 6:
CHECKS AND BALANCES
How Is Power Evenly Distributed?
In the principle of Checks and Balances, each branch of government can
exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches. Though the
branches of government are separate, they rely on one another to perform the
work of government.
The Framers included a system of
checks and balances in the
Constitution to help make sure
that the branches work together
fairly. For example, only Congress
can pass laws. Yet the president
can check this power by refusing
to sign a law into action. In turn,
the Supreme Court can declare
that a law, passed by Congress
and signed by the
president, violates the
Constitution.
Executive Branch
• Head: President
– May serves two 4-year terms
– Must be 35 years old at least
– Has a Cabinet and powers to
appoint members and other
offices and judges
• This branch executes and
carries out the laws…
The Executive Branch Powers
Legislative Branch
(Congress)
• Legislative means “law-making”
• Bicameral (made up of two parts):
The House of Representatives & The Senate
The Powers of the Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
• High Court: U.S. Supreme
Court
• Justices appointed by
President and approved by
the Senate and serve until
they die or retire
• The Judicial Branch
interprets laws to make sure
they follow the Constitution
PRINCIPLE 7:
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
How Are Personal Freedoms Protected?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution shield people from an overly
powerful government. These amendments are called the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights guarantees certain individual rights, or personal liberties
and privileges. For example, government cannot control what people write or
say. People also have the right to meet peacefully and to choose their religion.
Later amendments to the Constitution also advanced the cause of individual
rights.