The U.S. Constitution
Representative
Democracy
Federalism
Bicameralism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
7 principles of Constitution
Popular sovereignty
 Republicanism
 Limited government
 Federalism
 Separation of powers
 Checks and balances
 Individual rights

Popular Sovereignty
Defined as “authority of people”
 “We The People”-reinforces the idea of the
Declaration which states governments
power is derived(comes from) “the
consent of the governed”

Republicanism
Voters hold sovereign power
 People elect representatives and give
them power to make laws and conduct
government.
 Today republicanism and representative
democracy mean same thing.
 Defined as: system of limited government
where people of ultimate source of
governmental power.

Limited Government
Created to make certain the government
would have only those powers granted by
the people.
 Article 1 of Constitution states powers that
government has and doesn’t have.
 Other limits are found in Bill of Rights(1st
10 amendments to Constitution)
 Described as “rule of law”
 No one above the law

Federalism


System of government in which power is
distributed between a central authority
and individual states.
3 types of governmental powers
Delegated powers(also called enumerated
powers) belong only to federal govt.
b. Reserved powers- held by state government
c. Concurrent powers-shared by federal and
state government.
a.
Separation of Powers

3 branch system to prevent one from
being too powerful
 Legislative-
law making branch
 Executive- enforces the laws
 Judicial- interprets the law
Checks and Balances

Allows each branch to check or limit the
power of other branches.
 example:
congress passes a law and the
president can reject (veto) the law.
 Congress can then override the veto if 2/3 of
both houses vote again to approve the law.
Individual Rights of Citizens
Bill of Rights became a part of Constitution in
1791.
 Include 1st 10 amendments which protect basic
liberties and rights that you may have taken for
granted-including freedom of speech, freedom
of press, freedom of assembly, freedom of
religion, and the right to trial by jury.
 17 amendments follow bill of rights expand
rights of Americans.
