1. Six Basic Principles of the Constitution

2. POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
Authority of govt. rests with the people.

3. LIMITED GOVERNMENT
The power of government is not absolute.

4. SEPERATION OF POWERS
The 3 branches of government are independent and coequal.
Legislative, Executive, Judicial

5. CHECKS AND BALANCES
Limiting the power of other branches of government.

6. JUDICIAL REVIEW
Power of the Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality of a governmental action.
MARBURY VS. MADISON

7. FEDERALISM Division of powers: Federal, state, and local governments.
(levels or hierarchy)

8. Formal Amendment Process
Article V creates two methods for proposal and two methods for ratification of Constitutional amendments. (4)
PROPOSAL
2/3 (34) vote in both houses of Congress
2/3 (34) of state legislatures request it. Congress has National Convention to propose.
RATIFY
3/4 (38) state legislatures ratify
3/4 (38) state conventions ratify

9. Informal Amendment Processes
Informal amendment is the process by which over time many changes have been made in the Constitution which have not involved any changes in its written word.

10. The informal amendment process can take place by:
(1) the passage of basic legislation by Congress;
(2) actions taken by the President;
(3) key decisions of the Supreme Court;
(4) the activities of political parties; and
(5) customwr Pnt