1. The Principles of the United States Constitution

2. How did they create it? Created 3 braches
Executive (President) : enforces the laws
Legislative (Senate and House of Representative) : makes laws
Judicial (Supreme Court) : interprets the laws
The framers used 7 principles (main ideas) to guide them.
Popular Sovereignty
Republicanism
Limited Government
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Individual Rights

3. 1. Republicanism
People EXERCISE their power by voting for their political representatives
Representatives then have the power to make laws that govern the people

4. 2. Federalism
Power is divided between the national and state governments
Some powers are shared
The National Government has the “supreme power”

5. 3. Separation of Powers Power is divided between 3 branches
Legislative branch makes the laws
Executive branch carries out the laws
Judicial branch interprets the laws

6. 4. Limited Government
Government’s power is limited by the Constitution.
Government is NOT all powerful
The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

7. 5. Popular Sovereignty
Ultimate power and final authority is held by the citizens
“ We the people…”
A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

8. 6. Checks and Balances
Each branch has certain controls (checks) over the other 2
Prevents the abuse of power in government

9. 7. Individual Rights
Personal liberties or privileges guaranteed to the citizens
The Framers wanted to create a national government that was effective and powerful, but which did not take away rights of people

10. Can we change it? How do we change it?
PROPOSING CHANGES
APPROVING CHANGES
Option 1:
Congress proposes an amendment
Needs a 2/3 vote in each house
Option 2:
2/3 of the state legislatures request a national convention
Congress calls the convention
Option 1:
Approved by ¾ of the state legislatures
Option 2:
Approved by ¾ of state conventions
After being drafted in 1787, the Constitution was officially ratified in June of 1788!
We have a NEW GOVERNMENT!

11. Not everyone was happy…
After 9 states ratified the Constitution, it was official.
Some states believed that the Constitution did not do enough to protect the rights of the people.
They refused to ratify it until it contained a Bill of Rights.

12. Two Groups Emerged FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS
Supported the Constitution
Thought the national government should be stronger than the states
Favored dividing power among 3 branches
Favored only one executive
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
The Federalist Papers- written to answer criticisms of the Anti-Federalists
Opposed the Constitution
Thought the Constitution took too much power away from the states
Did not think it guaranteed rights for the people
Wanted to legislative to have more power than the executive
Feared that the executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution
George Mason and Patrick Henry

13. Example of Popular Sovereignty
“We the people of the United States […] do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – Preamble
Amendment 14 expands the definition of citizenship
Amendments 19 and 26 expand suffrage to women and those 18 or older

14. Example of Republicanism
Bicameral (2 house) Congress where both houses are directly elected (Article I)
President and Vice President elected every 4 years (Article II)
National government guarantees each state “a republican form of government” (Article IV)

15. Example of Limited Government
Bill of Rights
Powers denied to Congress and the States (Article I Sections 9 and 10)
List of things they CANNOT do

16. Example of Federalism
Powers delegated to the national government (Article I Section 8)
Powers not delegated to the national government and not denied to the states are reserved to the states (10th Amendment)

17. Example of Separation of Powers
Articles I, II, and III create the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and outline their duties and powers

18. Example of Checks and Balances
Congress can impeach officers from the other two branches (Article I)
Presidential veto (Article I)
President appoints judges to federal and Supreme Court (Article II)
Judicial Review (Marbury vs. Madison 1803)

19. Example of Individual Rights
Bill of Rights
Due process and equal protection from all laws (14th Amendment)