Republic: power of government lies with the people through elected officials. Framers saw people as independent thinkers and PUBLIC SERVANTS The people of Rome served out of devotion to the Republic

Republic faltered when citizens began to value luxury and comfort over FREEDOM and public service Framers of the Constitution wanted to avoid this same fate In order to avoid this they believed that the citizens of the US should be informed, educated, and independent

Natural Rights Everyone is under the law Taxes cannot be raised without the consent of the people Frequent Elections Trial by jury and Habeas Corpus Private Property

Locke: *natural rights *agreement between government and governed *violate rights = rebel  Montesquieu *Separation of Powers *Powers should be clearly defined and divided

Preamble: states the goals of the Constitution Articles: main body of the Constitution; sets up framework and defines powers of the government Amendments: formal changes

Indicates that the power/authority of the government comes from its people. Significant because if the authority comes from the people it can be taken away by the people Indicates a government by the people and for the people

Goal of the PreamblePurpose of Government To form a more perfect Union All states work together as a unified nation To establish Justice Everyone should be treated equally and fairly under the law. To ensure Domestic Tranquility The government has the responsibility to ensure peace and order at home. To provide for the common defense The government has the responsibility to protect its citizens against foreign attack. To promote the general welfare The government has the responsibility to promote the well-being of all its citizens To secure the blessings of liberty The government should value and protect the rights of its citizens

1. Legislative Branch 2. Executive Branch 3. Judicial Branch 4. Relations between the states: states must honor each other’s laws; procedure for new states 5. Amendment Process 6. Constitution is the “supreme law of the land”; states cannot make laws that violate the Constitution; Federal laws prevail 7. Procedure for ratification of Constitution

Formal Changes Framers believed they needed to leave room for the likelihood that the Constitution would need to be changed Process is not easy Only 27 amendments (Really only 25 changes) First 10 added in 1791 (Bill of Rights) Only 17 more 223 years Average of about 1 every 13 years Last amendment was added 22 years ago.

Popular Sovereignty ”we the people…” Asserts the people as the primary source of government’s authority Government by the people Limited Government Government has only the powers given to it by the Constitution Response to what they saw as abuse of power by Britain Separation of Powers Divides powers of government between 3 branches: legislative, executive, judicial See chart on pg. 256 Checks and Balances Each branch has the ability to limit the actions of the other 2 See chart on pgs. 257 Federalism Power of government is divided between the Federal government and the state governments Powers that are not clearly given to the Federal government are automatically given to the states Republicanism Instead of direct participation the people participate by voting for representatives Individual Rights Rights such as freedom of speech, religion, assembly… Bill of Rights