7 Principles of the Constitution
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Principle – a basic truth or law
One principle of education is that all
kids can learn !
People live according to their
principles… the laws of their life:
like honesty, hard work, faith, or
love.
7 principles memory hint
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Popular
Republicans
Fedex
Separate
Checks
Limiting
Investment
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Popular Sovereignty
Republicanism
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Limited Government
Individual Rights
Popular Sovereignty
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Popular = people
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Sovereignty = rule
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The people rule by
voting in elections
“We, the people”
of the United States”
2.
1.
3.
Popular Sovereignty
4.
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Republicanism
Republic – government in which people elect
representatives to make laws for them
685,000
Voters elect
A representative
To make laws
For them
Congressman
Gene Green
5A
Votes on
Bills (proposed
Laws)
29th Congressional
District
Republicanism
Sen. Hutchinson
Citizens of Texas
Elect 2 senators
To make laws for
them
Sen. Cornyn
Senators
Make
Laws
For
Texas
Citizens
5B
5C
6A
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Federalism
Federalism – the sharing of
government power between the
central (national) government and
the states’ governments
6D
6B
Central
government
State
Governments
Federalism
Responsible for
National stuff
Washington D.C.
6C
Responsible for
State stuff
Austin, Tx
6E
Federalism
6G
6F
Federal
Powers
Shared
Powers
6H
State
Powers
7A
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Separation of Powers
National powers are divided up
between three branches so no one 7E
7F
branch has too much power
7G
7B
7C
7D
Legislative
Powers
7C
Congress
7F
President
7E
Supreme
Court 7G
Executive
Powers
7B
Judicial
Powers
7D
Charles Montesquieu
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French noble who
wrote “The Spirit of
the Laws”
Urged government to
“separate into three
branches: executive,
legislative, and
judicial.
This would allow each
branch to “check and
balance” each other !
Separation of powers
7H 7I 7J
Checks & Balances
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Each branch of government can use
powers to limit the powers of the
other branches
8A
Checks & Balances
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Check – to stop or limit another
In soccer one player checks another
by stealing the ball
In football one player checks another
by blocking or tackling the other
player
In hockey one player hits another
player to get control of the hockey
puck
Checks & Balances
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Balance – equal, even, fair, in the
center
An athlete must have balance or they
will fall
The states and central government
have a balance of power.
Checks & Balances
8B
Congress can pass a bill but the
President can VETO the
bill and it doesn’t become a law
Checks & Balances
2/3’s of
House and Senate
Override the VETO
8C
Checks & Balances
Schools for White Kids
Schools
forfor
Nonwhite
Schools
all kids Kids
Supreme Court declares laws that segregate
Students by race as UNCONSTITUTIONAL or
Against the Constitution and illegal:
Judicial branch checks legislative branch
8D
Limited Government
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Everyone must obey the constitution
Even the government leaders must
obey the laws
The law applies to all
9A
9B
9C
Limited Government
South Carolina Governor
Sanford is being
Impeached for
Spending govt. money
On personal trips
Rod Blagojevich,
Illinois Governor
Was impeached
And removed from
Office for trying to
Sell a senatorship
9D
10A
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Individual Rights
Every citizen of the United States has
unalienable rights ( can’t be taken
away without a trial)
10B
The Bill of Rights is document that
Guarantees our rights
Individual Rights
Added to
compromise
With the
Antifederalists
1791
10 C
Individual Rights
10
D -H
Individual Rights
Press
Religion
R
A
P
P
S
Speech
Petition
Assembly