The Constitution :  The Constitution is the highest law in the United States  Each state also has a Constitution  the highest law for that state  The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land  Drafted (Written) in 1787  Ratified in 1788  Went into effect in 1789.

Bill of Rights  1 st 10 Amendments of The Constitution  A Written Guarantee of Individual Rights

Bill of Rights 1) Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition 2) Right to Bear Arms 3) Lodging Troops in Private Homes 4) Search and Seizure 5) Rights of the Accused (due process) 6) Right to Speedy Trial by Jury 7) Jury Trial in Civil Case 8) Bail and Punishment 9) Powers Reserved to the People 10) Powers Reserved to the States

The Basic Principles of American Government include: 1. Popular Sovereignty- (Democracy) The authority for government flows from the people. (Amendment IX and the Preamble)

The Basic Principles of American Government include: 2. Individual Rights- Unalienable rights are guaranteed to all citizens in the Preamble and the Bill of Rights. 3. Federalism- Division of power between the states and national government (10 th Amendment)

The Basic Principles of American Government include: 4. Separation of Powers separate branches of government 2. Limits the power of any one branch Legislative Executive Judicial Makes LawsCarries out Laws Are Laws Constitutional

The Basic Principles of American Government include: 5. Checks and Balances - Each branch can check the power of the other. These checks keep any one branch from gaining too much power (Articles I, II, III).

The Basic Principles of American Government include: 6. Limited Government - Powers of the Government are restricted by the Constitution as stated in Articles I, II, and III and by the Bill of Rights which protects the rights of the individual against excessive power by the government.

The Basic Principles of American Government include: 7. Representative Democracy - The constitution recognizes that the authority of the government derives from “We, the People.” Voters hold the Sovereign Power but Elect Representatives to exercise power for them!