1. Basic Principles that guide our nation
The Constitution
Basic Principles that guide our nation

2. Basic Principles
Section 3.1

3. Outline of the Constitution
Lays out the ways in which the Federal Gov. is organized
How the leaders of that Gov. are selected
Many of the procedures thaose leaders must follow as they perform duties
**** Sets out the limits within which the Gov. must conduct itself
Strength: deals largely with matters of basic principles, organized and straight forward, built around 6 basic principles

4. The constitution 7 Articles of original document 6 basic principles
Preamble- states the purpose of the constitution
Art. 1- creates the legislative branch
Art. 2- creates the Executive branch
Art. 3- creates the Judicial branch
Art. 4- Relations among the states
Art. 5- amending the constitution
Art. 6- Nat’l debts, supremacy of nat’l law, oaths of office
Art. 7- ratifying the constitution
Popular sovereignty
Limited government
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Judicial review
Federalism

5. Principles 1. Popular Sovereignty 2. Limited Government
The people are the ONLY source for any and all gov’t power.
Preamble a good representation
People give the power, gov’t exercises the power, but that gov’t is chosen by the people
2. Limited Government
No gov’t is all-powerful
Gov’t can only do what the people say it can
Constitutionalism- Gov’t must obey the law
Rule of law- limited gov’t, gov’t and officers are subject to, never above the law

6. Principles 3. Separation of powers 4. checks and Balances
Basic powers are distributed, separated, among 3 distinct branches of gov’t.
The president can’t exercise judicial or legislative powers for example
U.S. power is separated between: President/Congress/the courts
4. checks and Balances
Each branch of Gov’t is subject to a number of constitutional checks(restraints) by other branches.
Each branch has power to check on the other 2
Congress can make law, but the Pres. can VETO

7. Principles 5. Judicial Review 6. Federalism
The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a gov’t action
If something is found illegal, or violating a part of the constitution, it is unconstitutional
6. Federalism
The division of power among a central gov’t and several regional gov’ts
Colonists rebelled against a distant central gov’t
Framers constructed the federal arrangement with division of powers as a compromise
Framers believed:
Gov’t power poses a threat to individual liberty
Exercise of gov’t power must be restrained
Dividing gov’t power curbs it and prevents it’s abuse