1. The Seven Principles of the U.S. ConstitutionPrinciples Our country’s unique system of government, Democracy, is the first one we have learned about that is not a system of Unlimited Power. Unlimited Power Our founding fathers fought for independence because of the unfair treatment and unjust rule of the British Monarchy. When establishing this new system of government there were 7 main principles that the constitution is based on.constitution

2. Unlimited Power A system of rule where the government has no limits to its power.

3. We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA The Constitution was written in 1787 over a four month period. It was ratified, Signed into law, on September 17, 1787 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

4. Principle [prin-suh-puh l] noun A fundamental, primary, or general law or truth from which other laws or truths are made. Definition modified from Dictionary.com

5. The Seven Principles of the US Constitution Republicanism Popular Sovereignty Individual Rights Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Limited Government Back to Intro

6. Republicanism HOME The Idea that a government is run by elected representatives. Ultimately, the People Rule under this type of government. The laws and governing are the responsibility of the elected officials, who have their positions because of popular vote. Click for Real World Examples Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution; "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government…"

7. HOME Congress is made up of The Senate and the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is made up of Congressmen or Congresswomen who are elected by their state to 2 year terms. The number of reps changes based on the populations of each state, totaling 435 Representatives. The Senate is made up of Senators who are elected by their state to serve a term of 6 years. They work together with the House of Representatives to make our nation’s laws. There are 2 Senators for each state, totaling 100 senators.

8. Popular Sovreignty HOME The people within a government system are the ones in charge. The people control the government by voting. Popular Sovreignty is an idea that originated in the Declaration of Independence, and is set out in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

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10. Federalism HOME The Idea that Governmental power is divided and shared between different levels of government. Article IV establishes the relationshipbetween the states and the federal government. The Federal Government has “Delegated Power”, the State Governments have “Reserved Power”.

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12. Separation of Powers HOME The Idea that the power of the government should be shared between 3 branches of government, each with their own specific job. The Legislative makes the Laws, the Executive enforces the laws and the Judicial judges the laws. Article I establishes the Legislative branch, Article II establishes the executive branch and Article III establishes the Judicial branch.

13. HOME The Legislative Branch is Congress. Congress is made up of the 100 Senators and 435 Representatives. Laws are passed, changed or removed by this branch. The Executive Branch is in charge of executing and enforcing the Laws. It is also in charge of the daily running of the government. This branch is headed by the US President. The Judicial Branch is the system of courts and judges that are in charge of interpreting the laws and judging if they are being broken, followed or if they are constitutional. The court system is split up between various levels. Local Courts can be over turned by state Supreme Court, which can be overturned by the Federal Supreme Court.

14. Checks and Balances HOME In order to prevent any one branch of government from having too much power, the system of Checks and Balances establishes a system where each branch of government can approve or deny the actions of another branch. The Constitution Balances power through a system of three branches checking on eachother.

15. The Executive branch appoints Judges to the supreme courts. It also has the power to Veto, or stop, legislation from congress. HOME Legislative branch confirms or rejects people that the Executive branch appoints to jobs like supreme court justices. The House and Senate must check eachother. The Judicial branch has the power to decide the constitutionality of the acts of the other two branches.

16. Limited Government HOME The power of Government is limited. No person in the USA is above the law, every one from the regular people all the way up to the president. The Government ONLY has the power given to it by the constitution.

17. HOME Impeachment is the legal process of accusing and prosecuting an elected official when they have broken the law. Article II Section 4 of the Constitution says that the “President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States” are able to be impeached. Impeachment does not mean they have been removed from office, it a process that in the end, decides what consequences, if any, should be faced. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only presidents in US history to be Impeached, neither was removed from office. Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency before he could be impeached.

18. Individual Rights HOME ALL citizens are GURANTEED the rights and freedoms of the constitution at ALL times. Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

19. HOME The Framers of the Constitution did not include equal rights to women or slaves. These rights, although a principle of our constitution, had to be fought for through the Civil War, Women’s Suffrage Movement and the American Civil Rights Movement.