Major Principles of the Constitution The Constitution is based on seven major principles.

Major Principles of the Constitution Federalism: divides power between the central & state governments Believed state gov. would better understand needs of people Constitutionalism: individual rights, powers/responsibilities of the gov., limits gov. power (checks & balances), separation of powers, allows for amendments (changes can be made) Popular Sovereignty: People are the source of the government’s power Separation of Powers: divides gov. into 3 branches

Continued…. Checks and Balances: each branch can limit the power of the others. For ex., Presidential veto, Congressional override (2/3 vote) This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Majority Rule: Gov. does what is best for the majority of the people, natural rights of life and property are protected from the strong Republicanism: right of the people to elect leaders to serve and protect their interests promoting the common welfare

Federalism Federalism is a sharing of powers and responsibilities between the national government and the states. By the time the American Revolution had been won, state governments were fully developed. The American people still feared a strong central government. They wanted to keep the rights they had just fought to maintain in their states. The new Americans believed that the state governments would be more responsive to the people. They believed that state governments would best be able to meet the needs of their people. Granting the states specific self-governing powers and rights was not only politically beneficial, but also served the Framers’ intent to limit the central government’s authority. The sharing of power between the states and the national government was one more check in the system of checks and balances.

Dual Sovereignty state and federal governments are recognized as independent powers (but not equal).

Enumerated Powers Reserved Powers Concurrent Powers

Constitutionalism Individual rights, powers/responsibilities of the government, limits government power (checks & balances), separation of powers, and allows for amendments It provides the framework for government power.

Popular Sovereignty People are the source of the government’s power The Declaration of Independence states that the government gets its power from “the consent (permission) of the governed.” “We the People” in the Constitution

Majority Rule Government does what is best for the majority of the people. Natural rights of life and property are protected from the strong. This means that no majority, even in a democracy, should take away the basic rights and freedoms of a minority group or individual

Separation of Powers divides the federal government into 3 branches, each having a different job The Framers of the Constitution divided the federal government into three branches so that no one group would become too powerful

Checks and Balances each branch can limit the power of the others. Presidential veto: President can veto, or cancel, laws that Congress has passed Congressional override: Congress can reverse the president’s veto if two-thirds (2/3) of the members of both houses vote to pass it Judicial Review: the Supreme Court has the right to determine if a law violates the Constitution This way, no one branch becomes too powerful, or can abuse their power

Republicanism Right of the people to elect their political representatives, to serve and protect their interests, promote their common welfare Voters hold sovereign power

Monarchism Kings are descendants of gods. They have the divine right to rule This idea did NOT guide the authors of the Constitution