1. The Constitution
Chapter 3

2. Section 1
Basic Principles

3. The Constitution
Sets out the basic principles upon which government in the United States was built and operates today.
Lays out the ways in which the Federal Government is organized.
Describes how the leaders of our government are selected.
Sets forward the procedures that our leaders must follow as they perform their duties.
Sets out the limits within which government must conduct itself.
Lays out basic rules of American politics.

4. Basic Outline Preamble – States purpose of government.
Article I – Legislative Branch
Article 2 – Executive Branch
Article 3 – Judicial Branch
Article 4 – Relations Among the States
Article 5 – Amending the Constitution
Article 6 – National debts, Supremacy of national law, and oaths of office
Article 7 – Ratifying the Constitution
Twenty-Seven Amendments

5. Popular Sovereignty
Is the idea that people have the right to rule themselves; the people are the source of governmental power.

6. Limited Government
The government is not all-powerful. It has only those powers the people give it. There are certain things the government can’t do, even if the majority wants it. Article I and the Bill of Rights place many limits on our government.
Constitutionalism
Rule of Law

7. Separation of Powers
Divides the government into separate branches to protect against abuses of power.
Article I
Article II
Article III

8. Checks and Balances
Is a system in which the three branches of government have the power to check, or restrain, one another.
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9. Judicial Review
Is the power of the courts to determine whether what government does is in agreement with the Constitution.

10. Federalism
Is the division of power among the central government and the states.