Bell Work:
 What does the term, “limited government” mean to you?
The Six Basic Principles:
3.1
The Constitution:
 Fairly brief document.
- (Only about 7,000 words)
 Has successfully guided this nation through 200 years of
growth and change
- Oldest working Constitution
 Based mainly on basic principles, unlike many heavily
detailed Constitutions of other nations.
(ex): Cuba = 15 Chapters, 137 articles
 Sets out the basic principles upon which the U.S.
government was built and operates today.
1. Lays out the basic framework and procedures of our
government.
- branches of government
- presidential succession
2. Sets the limits on how the government can conduct itself.
(ex) – can’t deny a person the right to vote.
Six Basic Principles:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Judicial Review
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty:
 Idea that the government draws its power from the people,
and can only exist with the consent of the people.
 This principle is woven throughout the constitution.
(Preamble)
 Found at all levels of government.
Limited Government:
 Government is not all-powerful.
- the people are the only source of any and all of the
government’s authority.
- Government must obey the law (constitution).
1.Constitutionalism: Government must be conducted
according to constitutional principles
2. Rule of Law: The government and its officers are always
subject to – never above – the law.
Whyyou
do give
you think
this principle
Can
an example
of this of
basic
limited government was important to
principle?
the framers?
Separation of Powers:
 Recall the 3 powers that all governments have.
1.
2.
3.
 In a Presidential form of government, these three basic
powers are distributed, and separated among 3 branches of
government.
Checks and Balances:
 Checks and Balances: Each branch is subject to a number
of constitutional checks by the other branches.
- ex: legislative branch has the power to make a law, but the
president has the power to veto, or reject it.
Why would giving judicial power to the
legislative or executive branch be a
bad idea?
Judicial Review:
 Judicial Review is the power of the courts to determine
whether an act by the government is constitutional or legal.
 If the courts determine that an act is unconstitutional, then it
is considered illegal and becomes null and void.
- (ex:) Supreme court is going to review the constitutionality of
Obama care.
Obama administration said the legislative branch was using a
"quintessential" power -- its constitutional ability to regulate
interstate commerce, including the health care industry -when it passed the overhaul law.
said that lawmakers cannot require residents
to "enter into contracts with private
insurance companies for the purchase of an
expensive product from the time they are
born until the time they die."
What do you think?
Federalism:
 Simply put, power is shared between the central and state
governments.
(ex): - power to tax (both)
- make war (federal)
- issue drivers license (state)
 Why do you think this idea was important to the framers?
Bell Work:
 What basic principle of the constitution do you feel is the
most important? Explain why!
Bell Work:
 What do you like and dislike most about this class? Why??
Constitutional Change by Other
Means:
3.3
Introduction:
 Last section, you learned about how the Constitution can be
changed through formal amendments.
 Today we will learn the second way in which the
Constitution can be changed, often referred to as, informal
amendments.
Lesson Objectives:
1. Identify how basic legislation has changed the Constitution.
2. Describe ways in which executive or judicial action has
changed the Constitution.
3. Analyze the role of party practices and customs in shaping
the constitution.
Constitutional Change by Other Means:
 Refers to the process by which many changes have been made
in the Constitution, which have not involved any changes to
its written words.
- result of day-to-day/year-to-year experiences of the
government.
- occur much more quickly than formal
amendments.
5 Basic Ways:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Basic Legislation
Executive (Presidential) Action
Court Decisions
Party Practices
Customs
Basic Legislation:
 Congress has been a major agent of constitutional change in
two important ways.
1. passed laws to spell out provisions of the Constitution.
-ex: Article 3 calls for one supreme court, and
such inferior courts as the congress may establish.
2. Congressional Powers
- ex: Constitution gives congress the power to regulate
trade, but what does that mean?
Executive Action:
 The manner in which various Presidents have used their
power, has contributed to the growth of the Constitution.
- According to the Constitution, only congress can declare
war.
- However, the President is commander in chief of the
nation’s armed forces, and have made war under that
authority.
Court Decisions:
 As the supreme court rules and interprets the Constitution,
it helps to better define the document.
Party Practices:
 The nation’s political parties have also been a major source of
constitutional change.
 Neither the Constitution, or any law provides for the
nomination of candidates for president.
- yet, from 1830 the major parties have held national
conventions to do just that.
- Congress is organized and conducts much of its business on
the basis of party lines.
 The U.S. is in many ways government through party.
Customs:
 Unwritten Customs may be as strong as written law, and
many customs have developed in our governmental system.
 Some examples:
- Cabinet: advisory to the President
- Presidential Succession
-Presidential terms: 2 terms (8 years)