Six Basic Principles
of the U.S. Constitution
Basic stuff you need to know about
the Constitution.
Popular Sovereignty
Power belongs to the people
 The people decide who they want to be in
power and those people can change.

Popular Sovereignty
Our Constitution has many amendments
that help protect our popular sovereignty
 15th amendment - African Americans
 17th amendment - Senators elected directly
 19th amendment - Voting rights for women
 24th amendment - Outlawed Poll Tax
 26th amendment - Voting age lowered to 18

Think, Pair, Share

What is popular sovereignty?

How do people in a democracy delegate
their authority?
Limited Government
Constitution limits government
 No one is “above the law”

Think, Pair, Share

Why are the constitutional guarantees of
personal freedom in the Bill of Rights an
example of limited government?
Separation of Powers
Separation of powers between the branches
 Legislative - makes the laws
 Executive - enforces the laws
 Judicial - interprets the laws

Separation of Powers

Each branch has a different constituency
–
Legislative
 Representatives
 Senator
–
–
- Congressional district
- State
Executive - entire nation
Judicial - Constitution
Separation of Powers

Each branch has different lengths of terms
–
Legislative
 Representative
- 2 years
 Senate - 6 years (1/3 elected every 2 years)
–
–
Executive - 4 years
Judicial – life
Think, Pair, Share
What are the three branches of government?
 Why are there three branches of
government?

Checks and Balances
Each branch has powers to limit the other
branches
 To ensure one branch does not have all of
the power.

Think, Pair, Share

Explain the system of checks and balances.

How is the system of checks and balances
related to the principle of separation of
powers?
Judicial Review

Supremacy clause
–

the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the
Land”
Supreme court has the right to declare an
act of Congress unconstitutional.
Think, Pair, Share

How does the principle of judicial review
tie in with the principle of checks and
balances?
Federalism
Some powers are delegated to the national
government while some powers are
reserved for the states
 States have their own laws, courts,
constitutions and elected officials

Think, Pair, Share

How does federalism provide for a dual
system of government?

How does the process by which the
constitution can be amended reflect the
federal system of government?
Six Basic Principles
of the U.S. Government
Popular Sovereignty
 Limited Government
 Separation of Powers
 Checks & Balances
 Judicial Review
 Federalism
