S IX B ASIC P RINCIPLES OF THE U.S. C ONSTITUTION AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

AN OUTLINE OF THE CONSTITUTION Brief document – 7,000+ words Text of the Constitution p. 758 Not weighted down with detailed and cumbersome provisions Preamble—Introduction Articles—7 numbered sections Articles I-III—branches: I—Legislature; II— Executive; III--Judicial Article IV—Place of the states in the American Union and their relationship with the National Government

Article V—how formal amendments may be added Article VI—declares that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land Article VII—provided for the ratification of the Constitution Amendments—27 formal changes to the original document

OVERVIEW Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Limited Government Separation of Powers Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Checks and Balances Judicial Review Judicial Review Federalism Federalism

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY Definitions Definitions Sovereign—having supreme power within its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority. Sovereign—having supreme power within its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority. Popular sovereignty—Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed. Popular sovereignty—Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed.

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY Constitution begins with “We the People…” Constitution begins with “We the People…” People establish government and give it power People establish government and give it power People are sovereign People are sovereign Government receives power from the people Government receives power from the people Government can only govern with consent of the people Government can only govern with consent of the people

LIMITED GOVERNMENT Government only has as much power as the people give it Government only has as much power as the people give it Constitution contains specific limitations on government power Constitution contains specific limitations on government power No governments or governmental officials are “above the law” No governments or governmental officials are “above the law”

SEPARATION OF POWERS Government power is divided Government power is divided Legislative (Congress) Legislative (Congress) Executive (President) Executive (President) Judicial (Supreme Court) Judicial (Supreme Court) Intended to prevent misuse of power by any of the branches of government Intended to prevent misuse of power by any of the branches of government

CHECKS AND BALANCES Extends restrictions established by the separation of powers Extends restrictions established by the separation of powers Each branch has the authority to restrain the actions of the other two branches Each branch has the authority to restrain the actions of the other two branches Makes government less efficient Makes government less efficient Prevents tyranny by one branch Prevents tyranny by one branch

JUDICIAL REVIEW Who decides if an act of government oversteps the limits placed on it by the Constitution? Who decides if an act of government oversteps the limits placed on it by the Constitution? Historically, the federal courts decide Historically, the federal courts decide Established early in the nation’s history Established early in the nation’s history Federal courts have the power to review and to nullify (cancel) any actions that violate some provision of the Constitution. Federal courts have the power to review and to nullify (cancel) any actions that violate some provision of the Constitution.

FEDERALISM Federal system divides power between a central government and regional/local governments Federal system divides power between a central government and regional/local governments Federal government needs to be effective but should not threaten the existence of regional governments or peoples’ rights Federal government needs to be effective but should not threaten the existence of regional governments or peoples’ rights Local governments can deal with local problems as they choose—as long as their actions are constitutional Local governments can deal with local problems as they choose—as long as their actions are constitutional

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