7 PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION What is the Constitution and how does it work?

THE CONSTITUTION WHO– BEN FRANKLIN, JAMES MADISON, GEORGE WASHINGTON TO NAME A FEW WHEN– IT WAS WRITTEN IN 1787. WHERE– PHILADELPHIA WHAT–-A DOCUMENT THAT SPELLS OUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS FORMED, WHO MAKES IT UP, AND HOW TO PASS AND AMEND LAWS BASED ON A SET OF PRINCIPLES. WHY– THE U.S. WANTED A NEW WAY OF RUNNING THE COUNTRY

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY DEFINITION–A GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE PEOPLE RULE. THIS MEANS THEY PARTICIPATE BY VOTING. EXAMPLE—YOU CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT, SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO RUN FOR OFFICE, OR PROTEST DECISIONS MADE BY OTHERS IN OFFICE.

REPUBLICANISM DEFINITION – PEOPLE VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THEIR VIEWS. YOU CAN’T HAVE THE WHOLE POPULATION VOTE ON EVERYTHING, SO YOU VOTE ON PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR BELIEFS. EXAMPLE– YOU VOTE ON A SCHOOL PRESIDENT, TREASURER, SECRETARY, ETC.

FEDERALISM DEFINITION – A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH POWERS ARE SHARED BY THE STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. IN OUR SYSTEM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS ULTIMATE POWER, BUT THE STATE DOES HAVE POWER AS WELL. EXAMPLE--NATIONAL GOVERNMENT: PRINT MONEY, DECLARES WAR, ETC. EXAMPLE—STATE GOVERNMENT: DEATH PENALTY, ISSUE LICENSES, ETC

SEPARATION OF POWER DEFINITION – DIVIDES THE ROLES OF THE GOVERNMENT INTO 3 BRANCHES, EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL. WHY? SO THAT ONE PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE DO NOT CONTROL EVERYTHING AND BECOME TOO POWERFUL. EXAMPLE—PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE, SUPREME COURT JUDICIAL, SENATE LEGISLATIVE

CHECKS AND BALANCES DEFINITION—EACH OF THE 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT HAS A LITTLE CONTROL, OR CHECK, ON THE OTHER 2 BRANCHES. THIS BALANCES POWER BETWEEN THE 3, ENSURING THAT NONE OF THE BRANCHES GET OUT OF CONTROL. EXAMPLE – FEDERAL JUDGES ARE NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT, BUT HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY CONGRESS (H.O.R., AND THE SENATE)

CHECKS AND BALANCES

LIMITED GOVERNMENT DEFINITION – THE GOVERNMENT CAN NOT INVADE THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL. THUS THEY ALSO CREATED A “BILL OF RIGHTS” TO ENSURE THIS. EXAMPLE—THE GOVERNMENT CAN NOT TELL YOU WHERE TO EAT, WHERE YOU CAN GO SHOPPING, ETC.

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS DEFINITION – PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND PRIVILEGES THAT PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH AND CAN NOT BE TAKEN AWAY. THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE FIRST TEN AMENDMENTS, WAS CREATED TO LIST OUT ALL OF THESE RIGHTS SO PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO TAKE THEM AWAY. EXAMPLE– THE FREEDOM TO PRACTICE RELIGION. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PRAY IN SCHOOL.