Federalism

Federalism- Division of Power between Central and Regional Government Sharing Power

Popular Sovereignty

Popular Sovereignty- -People are the ONLY source of government power. -Power is received from the people

Limited Government

Limited Government -Government is not all powerful -Operated by principle of Constitutionalism – The rule of law- Nobody is above the law.

Much of the Constitution deals will prohibiting “Congress shall make no law….”

Separation of Powers

All three branches are equal in power All three branches are equal in power! No one branch as more power than other. No Tyranny!!! Article 1 sec. 1 Divides the government into 3 branches

Checks and Balances

-Each branch is subject to “checks” from other branches -Keeps 1 branch from becoming too powerful

Judicial Review

the power of the courts to declare a law constitutional and unconstitutional -Keeps 1 branch from becoming too powerful -Marbury vs. Madison

Bill of Rights

1st 10 Amendments (change) to the U.S. Constitution Ratified in 1791

1787 ….1791

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Thomas Jefferson, who did not attend the Constitutional Convention, in a December 1787 letter to Madison called the omission of a Bill of Rights a major mistake: "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth."

James Madison was skeptical of the value of a listing of rights, calling it a "parchment barrier”