1. The Constitution of the United States
CH 3.1 Principles & Structure

2. The Establishment of a Republic
Power held by voting citizens
Importance of educated citizens
Power exercised by elected representatives
Representative democracy

3. Flexible Document
Founders left it to later generations to work out details

4. Major Principles of the Constitution

5. Popular Sovereignty
The people establish government and are the source of its power.
Note the Preamble says “We the people… establish this government.”

6. Limited Government
Government powers are restricted to protect individual rights.
Rule of law- The government and its officers are always subject to, and never above, the law.

7. Separation of Powers
The power to govern is divided among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to prevent the concentration and abuse of power by any one branch

8. Checks and Balances
Each branch of government has the authority to check, or restrain, some powers of the other two branches.

9. Judicial Review
The judiciary has the power to strike down laws and government actions as invalid under the Constitution.
This power is not spelled out in the Constitution, but was implied by the Framers
It was established by the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in 1803

10. Federalism
The rights of the states are protected by dividing powers between the national government and the state governments
This is a compromise to allow citizens to manage their own local affairs but provides national structure and cohesion without too strong of a national government

11. The Structure of the Constitution
Three Parts

12. 1. Preamble Provides an introduction
Explains the purpose of the document

13. 2. Articles Article I– legislative branch
Creates the legislative branch
Describes Congress’ makeup & rules
Article II- executive branch
Creates the executive branch
Describes election procedures of the President and Vice President
Describes the President’s power’s and duties

14. Article III- judicial branch
Creates the judicial branch
Lays out the structure of the judiciary and describes its’ powers
Article IV- federalism
Describes the relationship between states
Defines states’ relationship with the national government

15. Article V- amending the Constitution
Describes how the Constitution can be amended (changed)
Article VI- “the supremacy clause”
Says the Constitution and laws passed by Congress are the Supreme law of the land
Article VII- ratification
Explains that the Constitution would become law when ratified by 9 of the states

16. 3. The Amendments