6.2 5 Principles of the Constitution

The People Rule popular sovereignty –“We the people” People hold the final authority in govt Constitution=contract between American people & their govt –People grant govt powers it needs to achieve goals –Limits power of govt by saying what govt can’t do Representative govt=people elect public officials to make laws & decisions for them by voting Who can vote? –All citizens 18 & older (not always like this)

Limited Govt Need to balance too much & too little govt as seen with British rule and Art. of Conf. Limited govt= govt has only the powers that the people grant it Most important limits on govt=liberty –Set out in Bill of Rights –Govt can’t take away freedoms of people –9 th Amendment: people have rights not listed in Const. –10 th Amendment: gives states or people any powers not granted by Const to nat’l govt

Federalism Federalism=division of power between the states & national govt Constitution assigns certain powers to the national govt. Others are left to states. Concurrent Powers are shared by federal & state govt Powers of the states All powers not specifically granted to federal govt are reserved to the state Const. says what powers states don’t have ALL STATES HAVE REPRESENTATION IN NATL GOVT The “law of the land” THE CONSTITUTION IS THE “SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND” only federal courts can settle disputes

Separation of Powers Framers of Const. wanted to prevent abuse of power by one person or group soooooo……. Divided the natl govt into 3 branches: legislative, executice, judicial Division of natl govt = separation of powers

Legislative Branch a.k.a Congress Makes laws 2 houses: House of Representatives & Senate Executive Branch Carries out the laws President heads the executive branch & appoints officials to carry out the duties of office Judicial Branch Supreme Court heads judicial branch Interprets & explains laws Set up lower courts as needed

Checks & Balances Prevent one branch of government from gaining too much power

Executive Branch (President carries out laws) Checks on Legislative Can propose laws Can veto laws Can call special sessions of Congress Makes appointments Negotiates foreign treaties Checks on Judicial Appoints federal judges Can grant pardons to federal offenders

Legislative Branch (Congress makes laws) Checks on Executive Can override President’s veto Confirms executive appts Ratifies treaties Can declare war Appropriates money Can impeach & remove President Checks on Judicial Creates lower federal courts Can impeach & remove judges Can propose amendments to overrule judicial decisions Approves appointments of federal judges

Judicial Branch (Supreme Court interprets the laws) Checks on Executive Can declare executive actions unconstitutional Checks on Legislative Can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional