1. 7 Principles of the Constitution

2. Popular Sovereignty The natural rights concept that ultimate political authority rests with the people (we vote)

3. Limited Government People give power to the government, the government’s power is not unlimited

4. Separation of Powers The division of powers among the different branches of government. In the United States, powers are divided equally among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

5. Checks and Balances The distribution and balancing of power among different branches of government so that no one branch is able to dominate the others.

6. Federalism A form of government in which power is divided and shared between national, state, and local government

7. Republicanism supreme power resides in a body of citizens; vote for elected representatives who run the government on behalf of the citizens

8. Individual Rights Specific rights that belong to each person, such as those listed in the Bill of Rights