1. Principles of the Constitution

2. Limited Government
The government (especially national) is given the power to only do certain things

3. Federalism
Based on the idea of a division of power between the national and state governments

4. Separation of Powers
Power is divided among three separate branches (legislative, executive, and judicial)

5. Checks and Balances
The idea that each branch of government exercises a check on the powers of the others

6. Popular Sovereignty
The government gets its authority from “the people” and functions only with their consent

7. Republicanism
The government is based on representatives, elected by the people, to create and enforce laws

8. Constitutional Supremacy
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States

9. Judicial Review
The Supreme Court is the official interpreter of the Constitution and has the final say in deciding what the Constitution means

10. Individual Rights Citizens’ rights are protected but not unlimited
Bill of Rights

11. Rule of Law
Principle that both the ruler and the ruled are bound by the same laws and have the same rights to equal treatment