1. 6.2 5 Principles of the Constitution

2. The People Rule popular sovereignty
“We the people” People hold the final authority in govt
Constitution=contract between American people & their govt
People grant govt powers it needs to achieve goals
Limits power of govt by saying what govt can’t do
Representative govt=people elect public officials to make laws & decisions for them by voting
Who can vote?
All citizens 18 & older (not always like this)

3. Limited Govt
Need to balance too much & too little govt as seen with British rule and Art. of Conf.
Limited govt= govt has only the powers that the people grant it
Most important limits on govt=liberty
Set out in Bill of Rights
Govt can’t take away freedoms of people
9th Amendment: people have rights not listed in Const.
10th Amendment: gives states or people any powers not granted by Const to nat’l govt

4. Federalism
Federalism=division of power between the states & national govt
Constitution assigns certain powers to the national govt. Others are left to states. Concurrent Powers are shared by federal & state govt
Powers of the states
All powers not specifically granted to federal govt are reserved to the state
Const. says what powers states don’t have
ALL STATES HAVE REPRESENTATION IN NATL GOVT
The “law of the land”
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE “SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND” only federal courts can settle disputes

5. Separation of Powers
Framers of Const. wanted to prevent abuse of power by one person or group soooooo…….
Divided the natl govt into 3 branches: legislative, executice, judicial
Division of natl govt = separation of powers

6. Legislative Branch
a.k.a Congress
Makes laws
2 houses: House of Representatives & Senate
Executive Branch
Carries out the laws
President heads the executive branch & appoints officials to carry out the duties of office
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court heads judicial branch
Interprets & explains laws
Set up lower courts as needed

7. Prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power
Checks & Balances
Prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power

8. Executive Branch (President carries out laws)
Checks on Legislative
Can propose laws
Can veto laws
Can call special sessions of Congress
Makes appointments
Negotiates foreign treaties
Checks on Judicial
Appoints federal judges
Can grant pardons to federal offenders

9. Legislative Branch (Congress makes laws)
Checks on Executive
Can override President’s veto
Confirms executive appts
Ratifies treaties
Can declare war
Appropriates money
Can impeach & remove President
Checks on Judicial
Creates lower federal courts
Can impeach & remove judges
Can propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions
Approves appointments of federal judges

10. Judicial Branch (Supreme Court interprets the laws)
Checks on Executive
Can declare executive actions unconstitutional
Checks on Legislative
Can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional