1. The Six Basic Principles
Of the U.S. Constitution

2. Articles of the Constitution
Section
Subject
Preamble
States the purpose of the Constitution
Article I
Legislative Branch
Article II
Executive Branch
Article III
Judicial Branch
Article IV
Relations among the States
Article V
Amending the Constitution
Article VI
National debts, supremacy of law, oaths of office
Article VII
Ratifying the Constitution

3. The Basic Principles Popular Sovereignty
Preamble: “We the People of the United States...”
Power comes from the people
People give power through the Constitution
Limited Government
Constitutionalism - govt. must obey Constitutional law
“Congress shall make no law...”

4. The Basic Principles Separation of Powers 3 branches of government
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many...may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
~The Federalist No. 47
Separation of Powers
3 branches of government
Stronger govt. but limited power
Checks and Balances
Each branch of govt. is subject to restraint
Prevents “an unjust combination of the majority.”

6. The Basic Principles Judicial Review
Power of courts to determine if govt. acts are Constitutional
Not actually “stated” in the Constitution
The Federalist Papers
Federalism
Central govt. & several regional govts.