The 6 Basic Principles of the
Constitution
Popular Sovereignty
• The people are the only source for ALL
government power
– Constitution example: “we the people”
– Real life example: referendum, elections
Limited Government (rule of law)
• Government and its officers are always
subject to-never above-the law
– Constitution example: the House of Reps. has
the power to impeach elected officials
– Real life example: the Pres. is subject to the
law and can be charged with a crime
Separation of Powers
• Basic government powers are distributed
among 3 distinct and independent branches
Legislative Branch
Congress makes the Laws
• Represent the states (Republic)
Executive Branch
• Led by the President
• Represent the people
• Carries out the laws
Judicial Branch
• Led by the Supreme Court
• Interprets the laws
Checks and Balances
• Each branch is subject to a number of
constitutional restraints by the other
branches
– Inherently creates a system
of compromise
Checks and balances
Legislative
1. Make laws
2. Congress
provides
military
3. Congress
funds
military
4. House of
Reps can
impeach Pres
Executive
Judicial
1.Veto laws
1. Interpret
laws
2. Pres—
commander in
4. Chief justice
chief
presides over
impeachment
3.Pres—send
trial
troops into battle
Judicial Review
• Power of the courts to declare an act of
government to be unconstitutional
– Not stated in Constitution---outlined in
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison
First time this was implemented by the courts
d
Brown v. Board of Education
(1954): declared laws
requiring segregation to be
unconstitutional
Roe v. Wade (1973): declared law
prohibiting abortion to be
unconstitutional
Texas v. Johnson (1988)
• Declared law prohibiting flag burning to be
unconstitutional
Federalism
Division of power between the national
government and the state/local governments
Federalism