1. The Principles of the United States Constitution
AIM: What are the guiding principles of the U.S. Constitution?

3. The United States Constitution
The Constitution is our plan for government.
It contains the Preamble
It contains seven (7) Articles or Topics
It contains the Amendments (27) in total – Last one in 1992

4. I. Popular Sovereignty
The people hold the ultimate authority and they have the right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient
popular sovereignty was used before the Civil War to allow voters in a new territory to decide whether to allow slavery .

5. II. Republicanism
Republicanism A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make laws and decisions for them
Choose your leaders wisely!!!!!!

6. III. Limited Government
Framers wanted to guard against tyranny
Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution.
The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed. Called Impeachment & Removal
The next slide will talk about how “Rule of Law” helps to limit the government

7. The rule of law limits government because:
Quick Review!
 The law applies to ____________
everyone
 Even the ___________ must follow the law
President
 The government cannot take actions that are _________
illegal

8. IV. Federalism
The division of power between State and National Governments
Some powers are shared
The National Government has the “supreme power”
The national government can declare war, print money, regulate immigration, establish treaties
Some powers are reserved for the states such as: gay marriage, education, establish local governments

9. Federalism

10. V. Separation of Powers Legislative branch makes the laws
The power of the government is separated into three branches. No one branch holds “too much” power
Legislative branch makes the laws
Executive branch carries out the laws
Judicial branch interprets the laws

11. VI. Checks and Balances Prevents the abuse of power in government
Each branch can check each other branch
They have power over each other.

12. VII. Individual Rights
The rights guaranteed to individual citizens by the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.
Freedom of speech and the press are two of these important rights.

13. FYI: Judicial Review
The role of the Judicial branch is to determine whether or not a law is constitutionally acceptable.
That means that any laws that the government creates cannot break/violate any of our constitutional rights such as freedom of speech
Judicial review is the power to declare unconstitutional, illegal, null, and void of a government action that violates some provision in the Constitution.