Chapter 3, Section 1 The Six Basic Principles

The Constitution is the nation’s law. Over 200 years old, it is more than an antique or artifact. It is the living document of a free country.

At a little more than 7,000 words, the Constitution is fairly brief and can be read in less than 30 minutes.

The original Constitution, as it was written in 1787, consists of two parts. The Preamble is the introduction or preface.

This is the last page, number four. There are Seven Articles, or numbered sections, in the Constitution.

The first 3 Articles deal with the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches of government Articles 4 deals with the Federalism part of our government – the relationship of the States and the Federal Government.

Articles 6 explains how the Constitution my be amended formally. Articles 7 makes the declaration that the Constitution is the nations law. The last Article, which is 7, states how the Constitutional ratification requirements.

The Constitution is built primarily around 6 basic principals.

Popular Sovereignty is the idea that the people are the source of all power held by the government.

Limited government means that the government possesses only the powers the people give to it – it must obey the Constitution. Limited Government means that the government possesses only the powers the people give to it – it must obey the Constitution.

Limited government means that the government possesses only the powers the people give to it – it must obey the Constitution. This principle is also known as constitutionalism. Constitutionalism means that government officials are subject to the rule of law – they must always obey the law and are never above it.

Separation of Powers established three separate parts or branches, that share the government’s power. These branches are the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

The Constitution uses this system to ensure that none of the three branches can become too powerful. The Constitution uses a system of checks and balances to ensure that none of the three branches can become too powerful. Each branch has ways to limit the power of the other two.

An example of this principle is the power of the President to veto, or reject, any act of Congress. Congress may then override a veto with a two-thirds vote in each house. This exhibits the ‘check’ and the ‘balance’ that keep the government balanced.

Judicial Review is the power of the courts to decide what the Constitution means. The courts also have the power to declare a government action to be against the Constitution, or unconstitutional.

The Framers used the principle of federalism to divide power between the central government and the States.

This incredible document has survived changes in society and government over 200 years and remains as remarkably stable as it was in the beginning. It is one of the most admired and borrowed from documents of these times.

The graphic above summarizes the six basic constitutional principles.