Structure and Principles The Constitution Structure and Principles

Structure 3 Main Parts to the Constitution: Preamble – Introduction; states goals and ideas 7 Articles – Lays out the structure of the government: I – US Congress; II – Executive Branch; III – Judicial branch and jurisdiction; IV – Relationship between the states and the national government; V – Amending the Constitution; VI –Supremacy Clause (Constitution, laws passed by Congress and treaties of the US are the supreme law of the land); VII – Ratification of the Constitution

3. The Amendments – changes to the Constitution The Constitution has been amended 27 times It provides a way to respond to a changing nation.

Major Principles Popular sovereignty – Based on the rule of the people. Authority for the government comes from the people. Federalism – Power is divided between the national and state governments. The reason for choosing federalism was due to the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation but people feared a powerful central government.

Separation of Powers – power is divided between the 3 branches of government; to make sure one branch did not become too powerful.

Checks and Balances –Each branch exercises some control over the others. Ex. Congress makes laws. President can veto laws. Congress can override a veto with a ¾ vote.

Judicial Review – Power of the courts to declare if laws violate the Constitution. Judicial Review was not clearly laid out in the Constitution. In the case, Marbury v. Madison – it set the precedent for federal courts to rule on the actions of the government. Limited Government – the Constitution limits government actions by specifying its powers and listing powers it does not have, retains them for the people the right to govern themselves.