The Seven Principles of the United States Constitution

I. Popular Sovereignty  The people hold the ultimate authority  A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.  Richard Durbin, Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Barack Obama are our elected officials in Congress and the White House

II. Republicanism  People elect representatives and give them the responsibility to make laws and conduct government.  We call that a representative democracy.

III. Limited Government  Framers wanted to guard against tyranny  Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution.  The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed.

IV. Federalism  The division of power between State and National Governments.  Some powers are shared.  The National Government has the “supreme power”

V. Separation of Powers  No one holds “too much” power.  Legislative branch makes the laws.  Executive branch carries out the laws.  Judicial branch interprets the laws.

VI. Checks and Balances  Prevents the abuse of power in government  Each branch can check or limit the power of the other branches.

VII. Individual Rights  The Constitution protects individual rights such as freedom of speech, freedom religion, the right to a trial by jury, etc.  These are rights of citizenship and the government can not take them away.

Parker Student Work 2008

Parker Student Work 2010