2. Basic Principles of the Constitution Chapter 2:iii

3. Reasons for the success of the Constitution is both simple and complex is clear and definite in principle as well as being flexible and open to interpretation

4. Preamble describes the principle of American government: -supreme power rests with the people -known as popular sovereignty

5. The authors of the United States Constitution took a dim view of human nature. They looked with skepticism at the people’s ability to govern themselves.

6. “If men were angels, there would be no need of government at all.” - James Madison

7. “[Democracy is] the worst of all political evils.” - Elbridge Gerry

8. “The people have ever been and ever will be unfit to retain the exercise of power in their own hands.” - William Livingston

9. Concerns of the constitutional convention too much democracy could lead to chaos - needed to be checked

10. Solution for avoiding chaos: have a republican form of government

11. What is a republican government? also known as representative democracy the people elect representatives to “speak for them” power is loaned to those elected was a compromise

12. federalism system of government where power and authority are constitutionally divided and shared by a national government and state governments

13. national supremacy state governments must accept that the national government is above them state governments may not pass laws or act in any way that goes against the Constitution

14. delegated powers specific powers allowed the central government by the constitution

15. powers delegated to the central government levy and collect taxes coin money regulate trade declare war establish a post office admit new states govern territories

16. implied powers powers which may reasonably be inferred from the delegated powers as belonging to the national government

17. Where in the Constitution is the source of the government’s implied powers? Article 1, Section 8 Congress shall have the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing [delegated] powers....”

18. “It was impossible to confine a government to the exercise of expressed powers;... there must necessarily be admitted powers by implication, unless the Constitution is forced to list every trivial detail.” - James Madison

19. reserved powers powers not given to the United States by the Constitution which are reserved to the states or to the people

20. concurrent powers powers which are exercised simultaneously by both the national and state governments

21. separation of powers major functions of government are divided into three distinct parts protects human freedoms by preventing the abuse of power

22. “Give all power to the many, and they will oppress the few. Give all power to the few, and they will oppress the many.” - Alexander Hamilton

23. What are the three branches of United States government? legislative executive judicial

24. What is the function of each of the three branches of the United States government? legislative executive judicial - to make laws - to carry-out laws - to interpret laws (Constitutional and national laws)

25. checks and balances a system whereby each branch of government exercises a check upon the actions of the others

26. What is a veto? It is when a president rejects a bill passed by Congress.

27. Can Congress still pass a law without presidential approval? Congress can override a veto by a two-thirds vote of its members.

28. “In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” - James Madison