Principles of the Constitution Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism Republicanism Individual Rights

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY This principle asserts that the people are the primary source of the government’s authority.

*The government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it. LIMITED GOVERNMENT *The government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it. *Every citizen of the U.S. – including the President must obey the law.

SEPARATION OF POWERS The Framers provided separation of powers to prevent any one group from becoming too powerful. Each branch has its own duties or jobs.

CHECKS AND BALANCES Each branch has the power to check, or limit, the actions of the other two.

**Division of power between the federal government and the states. FEDERALISM **Division of power between the federal government and the states. **The Constitution grants specific powers to the federal government and other powers to the states. Powers that are not clearly given to the federal government belong to the states.

REPUBLICANISM * Instead of direct participation in government, citizens elect representatives to carry out their will.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS *The Constitution protects individual rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to trial by jury.