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Principles of the U. S. Constitution

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Presentation on theme: "Principles of the U. S. Constitution"— Presentation transcript:

1 Principles of the U. S. Constitution

2 Seven principles found in the U. S. Constitution:
separation of power checks and balances popular sovereignty republicanism Limited government Federalism Individual rights

3 Separation of Power The power of the national government is divided into three branches. Legislative Branch makes laws Executive Branch enforces laws judicial Branch interprets laws

4 Checks and Balances The three branches check or limit each other to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful.

5 Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch
Congress can remove the president Legislative Branch Executive Branch The President can veto laws passed by Congress Supreme Court can declare a law passed by Congress unconstitutional Supreme Court can declare actions of the president unconstitutional The President appoints Supreme Court judges Congress approves and removes Supreme Court judges Judicial Branch

6 Popular Sovereignty The idea that people hold the final authority in government. people rule

7 Republicanism The people elect representatives and give them the responsibility to make laws.

8 Limited Government The U. S. Constitution created a strong national government, but the power was limited in order to prevent abuse of power. By creating limited government, they made sure the government would have only those powers given by the people.

9 Federalism Power is shared between a strong national government and the fifty states. The powers not delegated (given) to the national government are reserved (given) to the states.

10 Federalism The powers not delegated (given) to the national government are reserved (given) to the states.

11 Federalism Power is divided between state and national governments

12 Individual Rights Rights that are given to the people in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution. Some of these rights include freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to trial by jury.

13 Ratification of the U. S. Constitution

14 After four long and difficult months, the delegates at the Constitutional Convention produced a new constitution (U. S. Constitution) in 1787. The new constitution created a stronger national government.

15 Timeline Articles of Confederation Shays’s Rebellion Constitutional
Convention U. S. Constitution

16 What will complete the diagram?
U. S. Constitution

17 Roots of the Constitution
Magna Carta = Mayflower Compact = House of Burgesses = Declaration of Independence = Trial by jury Self government Representative government Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

18 These examples of colonial democracy helped pave the way for the writing of
U. S. Constitution

19 Articles of Confederation
U. S. Constitution 1st Constitution weak national government one branch no U. S. presidents no federal courts 2nd Constitution strong national government three branches U. S. presidents Supreme Court

20 Approving the Constitution
Before the Constitution could go into effect, nine states needed to ratify (approve) it. Americans discussed the arguments for and against the new constitution. Supporters of the new U. S. Constitution were called Federalists Federalists: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.

21 James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay wrote a series of essays called the Federalists Papers to explain and defend the Constitution. The Federalists Papers were used to convince citizens to support ratification (approval) of the Constitution.

22 F E D E R A L I S T S James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay

23 People who opposed (were against) ratification (approval) of the new U
People who opposed (were against) ratification (approval) of the new U. S. Constitution were called Antifederalists (Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry). Antifederalists were against the constitution because it lacked a bill of rights (a list of rights) to protect individual freedoms. The Antifederalists believed that the federal (national) government should have limited power.

24 Antifederalists Thomas Jefferson

25 Federalists Antifederalists Approved the new constitution
Strong national government Did not approve of the new constitution until a bill of rights was added Limited power for the national government

26 Signing the U. S. Constitution


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