The Principles of the United States Constitution

How did they create it? Created 3 braches Executive (President) : enforces the laws Legislative (Senate and House of Representative) : makes laws Judicial (Supreme Court) : interprets the laws The framers used 7 principles (main ideas) to guide them. Popular Sovereignty Republicanism Limited Government Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Individual Rights

1. Republicanism People EXERCISE their power by voting for their political representatives Representatives then have the power to make laws that govern the people

2. Federalism Power is divided between the national and state governments Some powers are shared The National Government has the “supreme power”

3. Separation of Powers Power is divided between 3 branches Legislative branch makes the laws Executive branch carries out the laws Judicial branch interprets the laws

4. Limited Government Government’s power is limited by the Constitution. Government is NOT all powerful The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

5. Popular Sovereignty Ultimate power and final authority is held by the citizens “ We the people…” A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

6. Checks and Balances Each branch has certain controls (checks) over the other 2 Prevents the abuse of power in government

7. Individual Rights Personal liberties or privileges guaranteed to the citizens The Framers wanted to create a national government that was effective and powerful, but which did not take away rights of people

Can we change it? How do we change it? PROPOSING CHANGES APPROVING CHANGES Option 1: Congress proposes an amendment Needs a 2/3 vote in each house Option 2: 2/3 of the state legislatures request a national convention Congress calls the convention Option 1: Approved by ¾ of the state legislatures Option 2: Approved by ¾ of state conventions After being drafted in 1787, the Constitution was officially ratified in June of 1788! We have a NEW GOVERNMENT!

Not everyone was happy… After 9 states ratified the Constitution, it was official. Some states believed that the Constitution did not do enough to protect the rights of the people. They refused to ratify it until it contained a Bill of Rights.

Two Groups Emerged FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS Supported the Constitution Thought the national government should be stronger than the states Favored dividing power among 3 branches Favored only one executive James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay The Federalist Papers- written to answer criticisms of the Anti-Federalists Opposed the Constitution Thought the Constitution took too much power away from the states Did not think it guaranteed rights for the people Wanted to legislative to have more power than the executive Feared that the executive might become a tyrant Wanted a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution George Mason and Patrick Henry

Example of Popular Sovereignty “We the people of the United States […] do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – Preamble Amendment 14 expands the definition of citizenship Amendments 19 and 26 expand suffrage to women and those 18 or older

Example of Republicanism Bicameral (2 house) Congress where both houses are directly elected (Article I) President and Vice President elected every 4 years (Article II) National government guarantees each state “a republican form of government” (Article IV)

Example of Limited Government Bill of Rights Powers denied to Congress and the States (Article I Sections 9 and 10) List of things they CANNOT do

Example of Federalism Powers delegated to the national government (Article I Section 8) Powers not delegated to the national government and not denied to the states are reserved to the states (10th Amendment)

Example of Separation of Powers Articles I, II, and III create the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and outline their duties and powers

Example of Checks and Balances Congress can impeach officers from the other two branches (Article I) Presidential veto (Article I) President appoints judges to federal and Supreme Court (Article II) Judicial Review (Marbury vs. Madison 1803)

Example of Individual Rights Bill of Rights Due process and equal protection from all laws (14th Amendment)