1. The Fundamental Principles of the U.S. Constitution
St. 3c (Chapter 3, Section 1)

2. 6 Main Principles Principles the U.S. Constitution is based on
Rule of Law
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks & Balances
Federalism
Judicial Review
The Constitution embodies these key principles along with describing the basic structure of government.

3. Principle #1: Rule of Law
What is it?
The principle that government and its officers must always obey the laws of the land.
Origins
This concept can be traced back to the Magna Carta of 1215.

4. Principle #2: Popular Sovereignty
What is it?
The Political principle that people are the source of all governmental power and that government requires the consent of the governed.
People are the ONLY source for all governmental power.
Examples
The government rules through leaders elected by the people to represent the people.
The Preamble of the Constitution says “We the People.”

5. Principle #3: Separation of Powers
What is it?
The Principle that each of the basic powers of government---executive, legislative, & judicial---- should all be used by an independent branch of government.

6. Principle #3: Separation of Powers
The Constitution divides the government into 3 different branches
Charles de Montesquieu
Philosopher that created the idea of separation of powers

7. Principle #3: Separation of Powers
The United States Constitution creates 3 branches of government.
3 Branches
The Executive
The President
The Legislative
Congress & Senate
The Judicial
Supreme Court & all other courts

8. Principle #4: Checks & Balances
What is it?
The system under which each branch of government can check, or limit, the actions of the other branches.

9. Principle #4: Checks & Balances
Each branch can check the other branch.
For example, the President can appoint Supreme Court Justices, but the Senate must confirm his choice.
Congress can override a President veto of their legislation
Through the “power of the purse” Congress can appropriate funds for government agencies & the militaries.

10. Principle #5: Federalism
What is it?
The Principle that political power should be divided between a central government and a number of regional governments.
It is a compromise between an all powerful central government and an independent state government.
Examples
It corrected weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation without replacing them with a British-style monarchy.
The Framers felt too much governmental power threatened liberty.
Federalism helps prevent that power from being abused, by dividing governmental power.

11. #6 Limited Government What is it?
Government may only do those things the people have given it the power to do.
Government must obey the law
Much of the Constitution spells out limits on the power of government

12. #6 Limited Government Limited Government
John Locke wrote that people have certain inalienable rights; life, liberty, and property
Government gets permission to exist from people
People can alter or abolish government
Heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson in his writing of the Declaration of Independence

13. Types of Government: Democracy
A system of government in which people control the government.
Political Authority rests with the people
People living in a democracy have more freedom than under any other form of government.
The concept of democracy originated in ancient Greece & Rome.
Aristotle was a Greek Philosopher; he was one of the first philosophers of government.