The Six Basic Principles The Constitution

Terms Limited government Constitutionalism Rule of law Federalism Elastic clause Separation of powers Checks and balances Veto Judicial review Unconstitutional

Structure Preamble – the introduction of goals Articles – 7 sections Preamble and Articles built around six basic principles

Popular sovereignty The idea that the people are the source of all power held by the government “We the people…”

Limited government The government possesses only the powers the people give it – it must obey the Constitution Constitutionalism – the principle of limited government Government officials are subject to the rule of law – they must always obey the law and are never above it

Separation of powers Establishes the three branches of government that share power Legislative, executive, and judicial

Separation of Powers – Congress/legislation branch Divided Congress into two houses – House of Representatives and the Senate In Article I, the Constitution carefully lists (enumerates) the powers of Congress Coin money, regulate trade between the states, declare war, Power to make laws to carry out the powers

Separation of powers – the President/executive branch Article II established the Executive branch which consists of the President, the Vice President, and a variety of departments and personnel. Role is to enforce the laws that Congress passes Serves as commander in chief of the armed forces Can propose laws, appoint federal judges, and negotiate foreign trade agreements

Separation of Powers – the Judiciary The courts Article III establishes a Supreme Court; gives Congress the power to set up lower federal courts Functions to interpret the Constitution and the laws and ensure that they are applied fairly

Checks and balances Ensures that none of the three branches can become too powerful Each branch has ways to limit the power of the other two President can veto acts of Congress Congress can override a veto with 2/3 vote in each house

Checks and Balances Legislative Branch Executive BranchJudicial Branch

Judicial review Power of the courts to decide what the Constitution mans Courts also have the power to declare a government action to be against the Constitution, or unconstitutional

Federalism Dividing the power of the government between the national government and the states National government acts for the interest of the whole nation Grants authority to the states to deal with local matters

Federalism – what the Federal government can do The Constitution carefully lists (enumerates) the powers of Congress Coin money, regulate trade between the states, declare war, Elastic Clause – gives Congress flexibility – the “necessary and proper” clause

Federalism – what the state governments can do

Federalism – shared powers