Open to the Preamble of the Constitution (p. 95) and for each of the six purposes of the Constitution, give an example of how the government accomplishes that purpose When you are done…

Civics Unit 3 Principles of the Constitution (ch 3.4)

I. Popular Sovereignty A. Def: people have the right to rule B. Examples 1. Declaration: governments draw powers “from the consent of those governed” 2. Constitution: “We the people…” C. Regularly scheduled elections the main way officials are held accountable

II. Rule of Law A. Laws apply to everyone B. Explains what things people and institutions can and cannot do C. Judicial Review 1. Supreme Court’s greatest power 2. review actions of gov’t if deemed unconstitutional

D. Impeachment- when President or Supreme Court Justice has broken the law 1. Majority in house to impeach 2. 2/3 majority in Senate to remove

III. Separation of Powers A. Three branches of Federal Government: Congress, President, and Supreme Court B. Article I- Legislative C. Article II- Executive D. Article III- Judicial

IV. Checks and Balances A. L>E: impeachment, override veto, reject appointments and treaties B. L>J: impeachment, reject appointments C. E>L: veto (also head of party, “bully pulpit”)

D. E>J: appoint judges, pardon E. J>E: declare actions unconstitutional F. J>L: declare laws unconstitutional

V. Limited Government A. Government may only do the things that people have given them the power to do B. Constitutionalism- gov’t must follow the law C. Bill of rights- designed to limit federal government D. Article I, Sec 9- powers DENIED to Congress E. Article I, Sec 10- powers DENIED to the States

VI. Federalism A. Expressed Powers or “enumerated powers”- powers written out specifically in constitution -gov’t power divided between federal and state

B. Implied Powers- powers not expressly stated 1. “Necessary and Proper” (or “Elastic”) Clause 2. allows Congress to make laws to expand upon enumerated powers 3. ex: creation of executive agencies, social programs, economy regulation

C. Reserved Powers- powers reserved specifically for the states 1. marriage and divorce, public schools, liquor laws 2. full faith and credit clause- each state must recognize the laws, decisions of other states D. Concurrent Powers- powers both national and state gov’ts have (ex: collect taxes, crime and punishment)

E. Delegated Powers- powers held by Fed gov’t only (naturalization, postal service, copyrights and patents). F. Supremacy Clause (Article VI) 1. Constitution is the Supreme law of the land 2. Laws and treaties passed by Federal gov’t supreme over the states