1. Underlying Principles
The Constitution is built upon six basic principles:
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Rule of Law
Checks and Balances

2. Popular Sovereignty The right of the people to rule themselves
Developed from ideas in England (democratic government)
Echoed in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble

3. Writers of the Constitution designed a government whose actions would always reflect the will of the people
Strongly expressed though the election process
If an elected official fails to serve the people, he/ she can be removed from office

4. Limited Government
One danger of democratic society: the majority may try to limit or deny rights to the minority
Example: no representation for the colonists in Parliament
Writers of the Constitution felt that government should not be allowed to do certain things, even if the majority wants it

5. Example: Article I limits the powers of Congress (no tax on exports)
Government is further limited by the addition of the Bill of Rights in 1791

6. Federalism
The relationship between the state and national governments.
Under federalism, the national and state governments share power
By allowing each state to have its own government , the Constitution gave Americans the freedom to provide for their own needs

7. The Powers of Government are divided into three types:

8. Enumerated powers
Those powers given specifically to the Federal government
Includes: controlling immigration, maintaining an army, establishing a postal system

9. Reserved powers
Those powers given specifically given to the states
Including regulation of trade within the state borders, set up schools, rules on marriage and divorce
Concurrent powers
Powers that are shared by the federal and state governments
Including the power to tax, borrow money, set up courts and prisons

10. The Supremacy Clause Found in Article VI
States that the Constitution and the laws of the national government are the “supreme law of the land”
In any conflict between a national and state law, the national law has the highest authority

11. 4. Separation of Powers
To protect against abuse of power, the writers of the Constitution divided the national government into three branches
System of checks and balances would further ensure that no one branch would have too much power

12. Rule of Law No one may escape or break the law
The law applies to everyone

13. Checks and Balances
To keep the branches from becoming too powerful, the Constitution set up the system
Under the system, each branch is able to check (limit) the powers of the other two branches
Maintains a balance between the branches

14. Examples:
the president can check the legislature by vetoing legislation, but Congress then can check the President by overriding the veto
The judicial branch can check Legislative and Executive branches by declaring that a law goes against the Constitution