7 TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CIVICS UNIT NOTES BY: MR. BABCOCK The Six Basic Principles of American Government

What are Basic Principles? Basic Principles are the values and ideas that our Constitution and thus upon which our entire system of government is based.

What are the 6 Basic Principles of American Government? 1. Popular Sovereignty 2. Limited Government 3. Separation of Powers 4. Checks and Balances 5. Federalism 6. Judicial Review

Popular Sovereignty What is PS?  PS is the idea that the power of the government comes from the people and that the people rule through democracy

Limited Government What is LG?  This is the idea that the government’s power is defined and limited by the Constitution. The government is not allowed to exceed those limits. And, no person is above the law (rule of law).

Separation of Powers What is SP?  This is the idea that no single branch or level of government could become too powerful. Therefore, the Constitution divides power between the three branches of the national government (executive, legislative, judicial) AND between national government, state governments, and individuals.

Checks and Balances What is CB?  This is the system established by the Constitution to keep none of the three branches from becoming more powerful than the other two. Each branch has certain “checks” that limit the power of the other two branches.

Federalism What is Federalism?  Federalism is the system of government used in the United States to define the balance of power between the national government and the state governments. In a federal system, the balance of power is relatively even.

Judicial Review What is JR?  This is the power the United States Supreme Court to determine whether laws or actions of the government are Constitutional. This practice was established in a Supreme Court decision in 1803 called Marbury v. Madison

Review Can you identify and explain each of the 6 principles of American Government?  Popular Sovereignty  Limited Government  Separation of Powers  Checks and Balances  Federalism  Judicial Review