1. Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Basic stuff you need to know about the Constitution.

2. Popular Sovereignty Power belongs to the people
The people decide who they want to be in power and those people can change.

3. Popular Sovereignty
Our Constitution has many amendments that help protect our popular sovereignty
15th amendment - African Americans
17th amendment - Senators elected directly
19th amendment - Voting rights for women
24th amendment - Outlawed Poll Tax
26th amendment - Voting age lowered to 18

4. Think, Pair, Share What is popular sovereignty?
How do people in a democracy delegate their authority?

5. Limited Government Constitution limits government
No one is “above the law”

6. Think, Pair, Share
Why are the constitutional guarantees of personal freedom in the Bill of Rights an example of limited government?

7. Separation of Powers Separation of powers between the branches
Legislative - makes the laws
Executive - enforces the laws
Judicial - interprets the laws

8. Separation of Powers Each branch has a different constituency
Legislative
Representatives - Congressional district
Senator - State
Executive - entire nation
Judicial - Constitution

9. Separation of Powers Each branch has different lengths of terms
Legislative
Representative - 2 years
Senate - 6 years (1/3 elected every 2 years)
Executive - 4 years
Judicial – life

10. Think, Pair, Share What are the three branches of government?
Why are there three branches of government?

11. Checks and Balances Each branch has powers to limit the other branches
To ensure one branch does not have all of the power.

12. Think, Pair, Share Explain the system of checks and balances.
How is the system of checks and balances related to the principle of separation of powers?

13. Judicial Review Supremacy clause
the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land”
Supreme court has the right to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.

14. Think, Pair, Share
How does the principle of judicial review tie in with the principle of checks and balances?

15. Federalism
Some powers are delegated to the national government while some powers are reserved for the states
States have their own laws, courts, constitutions and elected officials

16. Think, Pair, Share
How does federalism provide for a dual system of government?
How does the process by which the constitution can be amended reflect the federal system of government?

17. Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Government
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks & Balances
Judicial Review
Federalism