Preamble

The Preamble There is really only one way to teach you…

What does each part of the Preamble actually mean? We’ll record 3 specific examples of ways that the government tries to ensure it meets the goals of the Preamble With your partner, create 2 specific examples for each part Then we’ll trade ideas with other partnerships

Constitutional Principles

Goal There are 4 major principles (ideas) of the Constitution that we will understand: Popular Sovereignty Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism

Create this chart PRINCIPLE DEFINITION PICTURE

Popular Sovereignty The idea that the government gets its power from the people.

Separation of Powers A way of dividing power among the 3 branches of government The 3 branches are selected by different constituencies (voters)

Checks and Balances: Definition The three branches of government have oversight and control over the actions of the others Each branch’s power is checked by the power of another – no one branch becomes too powerful

Do we know any specific checks and balances among the 3 branches? Legislative check on the executive? Executive check on the judiciary? Judicial check on the legislature?

Checking the people What is the main way the Constitution check the power of the people? The Electoral College We don’t actually elect the President directly

Federalism Power is divided between the national government and the state governments Independent states are bound together under one nationalized government Federalism

These principles in modern America We’ll examine current events that show how these principles continue to impact us today