1. United States Constitution Exam Preparation
Principles of American Government

2. Principles of American Government
Popular Sovereignty
The People have supreme power
Government get the authority from the people
Be your own boss
Limited Government
Checks & Balances
Enumerate Powers of the Constitution
Separation of Powers (Montesquieu)
Federalism
Sharing of power between a strong central government and weak state governments
Supremacty Clause- Supreme Law of the Land

3. Principles of American Government
Checks and Balance System
Executive-
Veto or Pocket Veto over the Legislative
Choose Supreme Court Judges
Legislative
2/3 Override of Veto of Exec
Choose all lower courts and punishments over Judicial
Judicial
Judicial Review
Prevent one branch from abusing power

4. Checks & Balances Override Vetoes Impeach Approve Treaties
Confirm Appointments
Oversight
Judicial Review
Appointed for Life
Veto
Call Special Sessions
Impeach
Creates Lower Courts
Approves Appointments
Appoints Judges
Pardon & Reprieve
Judicial Review
Appointed for Life

5. Principles of American Government
Majority Rules / Minority Rights
The majority has power in the government
However, the Bill of Rights keeps the Majority from taking certain rights away from the minority
You are innocent until proven guilty in our society
Separation of Power- each individual branch has their own power

6. Principles of Government
Social Contract- an agreement to create a government and consent to its law
Imaginary contract that is followed because it is what is accepted.
Citizenship
Born in the U.S., Parents that are U.S. Citizens, Gone through the naturalization process

7. Presidential Succession
1-Vice President
2-Speaker of the House
3-President Pro Tempore
4-Presidential Cabinet

9. United States Constitution Exam Preparation
Line of Presidential Succession

10. Presidential Succession
Cabinet Line
Others in Line…
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health & Human Services
Secretary of Housing & Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security