1. 7 Principles of the Constitution
Principle – a basic truth or law
One principle of education is that all kids can learn !
People live according to their principles… the laws of their life:
like honesty, hard work, faith, or love.

2. 7 principles memory hint
Popular
Republicans
Fedex
Separate
Checks
Limiting
Investment
Popular Sovereignty
Republicanism
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Limited Government
Individual Rights

3. Inside / Outside Square

4. Popular Sovereignty “We, the people” 2. 1. of the United States”
Popular = people
Sovereignty = rule
The people rule by voting in elections
“We, the people”
of the United States” 1. 2.

5. Popular Sovereignty 3.

6. Inside / Outside Square

7. 4.
Republicanism
Republic – government in which people elect representatives to make laws for them
685,000
Voters elect
A representative
To make laws
For them
Congressman
Gene Green 5A
Votes on
Bills (proposed
Laws)
29th Congressional
District

8. Republicanism 5B 5C Sen. Hutchinson Sen. Cornyn Senators Make Laws For
Texas
Citizens
Sen. Hutchinson
Citizens of Texas
Elect 2 senators
To make laws for
them 5B 5C
Sen. Cornyn

9. Inside / Outside Square

10. Federalism 6A
Federalism – the sharing of government power between the central (national) government and the states’ governments 6D 6B
Central
government
State
Governments

11. Federalism 6E 6C Responsible for Responsible for National stuff
State stuff
Washington D.C.
Austin, Tx 6E 6C

12. Federalism 6G 6F 6H
Federal
Powers
State
Powers
Shared
Powers

13. Inside / Outside Square

14. Separation of Powers 7A
National powers are divided up between three branches so no one branch has too much power 7E 7F 7G
Legislative
Powers 7C 7B 7C 7D
Congress 7F
President 7E
Supreme
Court 7G
Executive
Powers 7B
Judicial
Powers 7D

15. Charles Montesquieu French noble who wrote “The Spirit of the Laws”
Urged government to “separate into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
This would allow each branch to “check and balance” each other !

16. Separation of powers
7H 7I 7J

17. Inside / Outside Square

18. Checks & Balances
Each branch of government can use powers to limit the powers of the other branches 8A

19. Checks & Balances Check – to stop or limit another
In soccer one player checks another by stealing the ball
In football one player checks another by blocking or tackling the other player
In hockey one player hits another player to get control of the hockey puck

20. Checks & Balances Balance – equal, even, fair, in the center
An athlete must have balance or they will fall
The states and central government have a balance of power.

21. Checks & Balances 8B Congress can pass a bill but the
President can VETO the
bill and it doesn’t become a law

22. Checks & Balances
2/3’s of
House and Senate
Override the VETO 8C

23. Checks & Balances 8D Supreme Court declares laws that segregate
Schools for all kids
Schools for Nonwhite Kids
Schools for White Kids 8D
Supreme Court declares laws that segregate
Students by race as UNCONSTITUTIONAL or
Against the Constitution and illegal:
Judicial branch checks legislative branch

24. Inside / Outside Square

25. Limited Government 9A 9B 9C Everyone must obey the constitution
Even the government leaders must obey the laws
The law applies to all 9A 9B 9C

26. South Carolina Governor
Limited Government 9D
South Carolina Governor
Sanford is being
Impeached for
Spending govt. money
On personal trips
Rod Blagojevich,
Illinois Governor
Was impeached
And removed from
Office for trying to
Sell a senatorship

27. Inside / Outside Square

28. Individual Rights 10A 10B Every citizen of the United States has
unalienable rights ( can’t be taken
away without a trial)
The Bill of Rights is document that
Guarantees our rights
10B

29. Individual Rights 10 C Added to compromise With the Antifederalists
1791
10 C

30. Individual Rights 10
D -H

31. Individual Rights R A P S
Press
Petition
Religion
Assembly
Speech

32. Inside / Outside Square