The Six Basic Principles

Protect Individual Rights Each person has certain rights These rights are mentioned in the Bill of Rights

Promote the Common Good America, as a whole, benefits Some people may not get what they want, but the majority of the country is better off

Popular Sovereignty Definition: the people have the power and allow the government to rule

Popular Sovereignty How do we give the power to the government? (Examples) Election of government officials Vote on issues What if we do not agree with our elected officials? We can elect a different official We can protest

Limited Government Definition: The government can only do what the people allows the government to do The government has to follow its own laws

Limited Government Examples: The President will be arrested if he robs a bank Athletes cannot get away with breaking the law: Michael Vick was arrested and imprisoned for dog fighting

Separation of Power Definition: the power of the government is divided among three separate branches Example: 3 branches: Legislative Executive Judicial

Separation of Powers The Constitution created a strong central government This is to prevent abuse of power The Constitution specifies the powers of each branch of the government in the first 3 articles

Checks and Balances Definition: each branch checks on the other two branches Makes sure they are doing their jobs Keeps all branches equal; not one branch with all the power

Checks and Balances The Constitution applied several checks or restraints to each branch of the government Each check helps keep the power of the government in balance No one branch can operate or control the government without the other branches Each branch needs the other branches to keep the government running

Checks and Balances

Checks and Balances Example: Legislative: can override presidential vetoes (executive); can impeach Supreme Court justices (judicial) Executive: can veto laws (legislative); can pardon criminals (judicial) Judicial: determine if laws are constitutional (legislative); determine if president’s actions are constitutional (executive)

Federalism Definition: Federalism is the separation of power or authority between the national government and state governments The needs of the people are often more effectively met by localized authority

Federalism Example National government: can declare war and mobilize troops State government: can pass laws prohibiting residents from shopping at FinishLine

Protect Minority Rights People who do not make up the majority still have their rights Voting is still done and the majority rules, but laws protect the minority group’s rights

Protect Minority Rights Example The Immigration/Arizona law passed in Arizona led to racial profiling which violates the rights of Hispanics in Arizona This was not allowed (law is still in effect) Laws cannot discriminate against people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation