Principles of the Constitution

Limited Government The government (especially national) is given the power to only do certain things

Federalism Based on the idea of a division of power between the national and state governments

Separation of Powers Power is divided among three separate branches (legislative, executive, and judicial)

Checks and Balances The idea that each branch of government exercises a check on the powers of the others

Popular Sovereignty The government gets its authority from “the people” and functions only with their consent

Republicanism The government is based on representatives, elected by the people, to create and enforce laws

Constitutional Supremacy The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States

Judicial Review The Supreme Court is the official interpreter of the Constitution and has the final say in deciding what the Constitution means

Individual Rights Citizens’ rights are protected but not unlimited Bill of Rights

Rule of Law Principle that both the ruler and the ruled are bound by the same laws and have the same rights to equal treatment