Introduction to the Constitution Six Basic Principles Preamble

The Six Basic Principles of the Constitution Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Judicial Review Federalism

Popular Sovereignty “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Declaration of Independence

Popular Sovereignty Popular- of the people as a whole Same root word as population Other uses: popular vote, popular discontent, popular representation Sovereignty- the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a territory Popular sovereignty- the people as a whole have supreme authority

“That government is best which governs least.” Henry David Thoreau Limited Government “That government is best which governs least.” Henry David Thoreau

Limited Government The principle of Popular Sovereignty tells us that the people are the source of government power. Therefore, the government only has as much power as the people give it. No government official, nor the government itself, is above the law.

Separation of Powers "The way to have good and safe government, is not to trust it all to one, but to divide it among the many.” Thomas Jefferson

Separation of Powers Not only is the power of the government limited, but it is divided. The Constitution divides power among three branches of government: Legislative- Congress Executive- President Judicial- federal courts

Checks and Balances “The use of checks and balances in the forms of government, is to create delays and multiply diversities of interests, by which the tendency on a sudden to violate them may be counteracted.” John Adams

Checks and Balances The United States government is intentionally inefficient. Each branch of the government has the authority to restrict the actions of the other two branches. This prevents tyranny by any branch of government.

Judicial Review The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made… Section 2, Article III of Constitution

Judicial Review Since the Constitution is the highest authority in the country, no one can violate it. Actions by the Executive or Legislative branches of government can be invalidated by the Judicial Branch, if those actions are found to be unconstitutional.

Federalism “The true natural check on absolute democracy is the federal system, which limits the central government by the powers reserved, and the state governments by the powers they have ceded.” Lord Acton, British historian

Federalism A federal system divides power between a central government (Washington, D.C.) and several regional governments (Jefferson City) This limits the power of the central government Federalism also allows states to deal with local problems

Federalism Tenth Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

The Six Constitutional Principles Which of the six principles do you think is the most important? Why?

Preamble- What’s the point of this Constitution? Establish Justice Insure Domestic Tranquility Provide for Common Defense Promote General Welfare Secure Liberty