1. In your life, what are 5 ideas that you live by, that guide your decisions and your daily life.
For example, for me, these basic principles guide my life:
Spend less.
Exercise often.
Stay busy.
Work hard.
Be nice.

2. Discuss your ideas with your partner/table

3. 5 Basic Principles of the Constitution
The framers agreed that there will be 5 basic ideas guiding the new Constitution

4. Principle A basic, guiding rule or idea
In this case, the rules that the framers referred back to when writing the Constitution

5. Principle 1: The People Rule
Popular Sovereignty:
What it means: The people allow the government to have power
What it looks like: VOTING
Representative Government: The people elect representatives to rule.

6. Explain this quote in your group.

7. Principle 2: Limited Government
The government’s power is limited in many ways

8. In your group, discuss….
Compile a list of limits on the government’s power. There are many!

10. Principle 3: Federalism
National Government: delegated (listed) and implied powers
Delegated powers are LISTED in the Constitution
Implied Powers: Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) Article 1, section 8, clause 18
Allows the national government to STRETCH its power to do whatever is Necessary and Proper to make the country run smoothly. This gives gov’t implied powers.
State Government: reserved (leftover) powers—all powers not specifically granted to the federal government are reserved for the states
States have the power to meet their own needs

11. What does this cartoonist think about the relationship between the states and federal government?

12. Principle 4: Separation of Powers
Legislative Branch: make laws (Article I)
Executive Branch: enforce laws, carry them out (Article II)
Judicial Branch: Interpret laws/system of courts (Article III)

13. 3 Branches=Separation of Powers

14. Discuss in your group
List things that you know each branch does/can do/who is a part

15. Principle 5: Checks and Balances
Each branch has power over the other two branches, keeping each branch “in check”

16. Discuss in your group:
List in your group as many checks and balances on the three branches as you can

17. With powers separate among the three branches, we can have checks and balances. Each branch can make sure the others stay “in check”

19. Principle 6. Judicial Review
Power of the court to determine the constitutionality of a law or executive order
Supremacy Clause (Article 6, clause 2)– US Constitution is the supreme law of the land