1. Preamble

2. The Preamble
There is really only one way to teach you…

3. What does each part of the Preamble actually mean?
We’ll record 3 specific examples of ways that the government tries to ensure it meets the goals of the Preamble
With your partner, create 2 specific examples for each part
Then we’ll trade ideas with other partnerships

4. Constitutional Principles

5. Goal
There are 4 major principles (ideas) of the Constitution that we will understand:
Popular Sovereignty
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism

6. Create this chart
PRINCIPLE
DEFINITION
PICTURE

7. Popular Sovereignty
The idea that the government gets its power from the people.

8. Separation of Powers
A way of dividing power among the 3 branches of government
The 3 branches are selected by different constituencies (voters)

9. Checks and Balances: Definition
The three branches of government have oversight and control over the actions of the others
Each branch’s power is checked by the power of another – no one branch becomes too powerful

10. Do we know any specific checks and balances among the 3 branches?
Legislative check on the executive?
Executive check on the judiciary?
Judicial check on the legislature?

11. Checking the people
What is the main way the Constitution check the power of the people?
The Electoral College
We don’t actually elect the President directly

12. Federalism
Power is divided between the national government and the state governments
Independent states are bound together under one nationalized government
Federalism

13. These principles in modern America
We’ll examine current events that show how these principles continue to impact us today