OBJECTIVE DO-FIRST  You will be able to define and give examples of 3 principles of the U.S. Constitution.  Complete the “Judicial, Executive, or Legislative” fill in the blank sheet.

Separation of Powers!  One of the ways the framers of the Constitution made SURE that the national government wouldn’t become too powerful was by separating the powers within the government!  As we watch the video, be ready to answer the question: How is our national government like a three-ring circus?

Principles of the Constitution: DAY ONE  So what exactly did this new “plan of government” look like? We can break down the Constitution into 6 key principles, or key ideas, which give specific guidelines on how our government should operate.  The six principles are popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, limited government, federalism, and republicanism.  In today’s lesson, we will look at three of the six principles of the Constitution.

Principle #1: POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY  The framers of the Constitution begin this historic document with the section called the Preamble. This section explains reasons for creating this new government.  The Preamble begins with the words “We the People of the United States of America…”—by starting the Constitution with these words, the framers are announcing that the authority of the government comes from the people.  This concept is called popular sovereignty. This is the idea that the power to form a government does not come from a king or supreme ruler—the power to create a government comes from the people, from ordinary Americans.  POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY:  Popular = people  Sovereignty = rule

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING:  In the boxes, write the first few words of the Constitution and then draw a picture that represents the term “popular sovereignty”

Principle #2: SEPARATION OF POWERS  The framers of the Constitution, especially the Anti-Federalists, were terrified of creating a federal (national) government that would become too powerful.  For this reason, they decided to split up, or separate, all of the government’s power into three different branches

Brain Pop!  As we watch the video on the 3 branches of government, fill in your graphic organizer

Principle #3: CHECKS and BALANCES  The framers of the Constitution knew that each branch had a lot of power and responsibility.  To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, they created a system of “checks and balances.”  This system allows one branch to check (or stop) other branches from having all of the power. This creates a more balanced government!  Each branch of government is limited by the other 2 branches is different ways.  (As we finish the video fill in the example boxes below. In the bubbles, write which branch is checking which branch)

ACTIVITY: 3-Flap Foldable  Follow the directions to create your foldable: 1. Fold along the lines and cut along the dotted lines to create your 3 flap foldable. 2. On the space below each flap, write Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. 3. On the front of each flap, draw a picture that represents that branch of government. 4. Open up the flap. There are 2 boxes. In the top box, write out all of the descriptors that go with that branch of government. Use the descriptor list below and copy those descriptors into the appropriate box. 5. In the bottom box, use your notes to write down examples of how that branch checks the power of the other two branches.

LIST OF DESCRIPTORS: Sort Them!  Capitol Building  Supreme Court  White House  Decides if the laws are constitutional  9 justices  Made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate  President, Vice President, and heads of departments  Carries out, approves, and recommends laws  Introduces bills and makes them into laws  Commander-in-chief of the armed forces  Their decisions overrule the decisions of city and state courts  Can be in office for up to 8 years  Directs foreign policy