7 Principles of the Constitution

Section #1 of Constitution Test

Popular Sovereignty

Popular Sovereignty

This idea means that the people have the ultimate control over the government.

It means literally “people authority.”The Framers wanted to be sure that no one person

or group could take control of the government.

Republicanism

Republicanism

Citizens elect representatives to run the government.

The Framers wanted to make sure that the will of the people could be carried out.

A direct democracy (when all citizens vote on every issue) is not possible. Electing representatives is the next best thing!

Limited Government

Limited Government

The government only has the powers that the Constitution gives to it.

The Framers wanted to make sure that the government didn’t become so powerful that it could take power away from its citizens.

“Man is not free unless government is limited”

President Ronald Reagan

Federalism

Federalism

The division of government between the state and federal levels.

The Constitution spells out which powers belong to the state and which belong to the federal government.

Separation of Powers

Separation of Powers

The Framers divided the power of the national government into 3 Branches.Legislative-makes the lawsExecutive-carries out the lawsJudicial-interprets the laws

Each branch operates separately.No branch is more powerful than the others.

Legislative Power Executive

Power

Judicial Power

To make laws

To put laws into

effect

To interpret

laws

3 Branches of Government

Checks and Balances

Checks and Balances

In order to make sure that no branch becomes too powerful, the Framers planned a system of checks (ways the other branches could oversee) and balances (equal but separate responsibilities).

Ex. Legislative Branch makes laws but the Executive Branch can veto.

Individual Rights

Individual Rights

The Constitution (Bill of Rights) protects the individual rights of citizens.

The Framers wanted to make sure that people had rights that had been denied to them under King George III.

Question #1

Which principle says that the government can’t do anything it wants. It can do what the Constitution allows it to?

LIMITED GOVERNMENT

Question #2

Which principle guarantees citizens have freedoms that can’t ever be taken away from them?

INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

Question #3

Which principle says that the states have some responsibilities and the national government have some responsibilities?

FEDERALISM

Question #4

Which principle says that the responsibilities of the national government should be divided?

SEPARATION OF POWERS

Question #5

Which principle says that no one part of the federal government should be more powerful than the others? Each part should be able to supervise and limit the power of the other parts.

Checks and Balances

Question #6

Which principle says that the people should be in charge of the government?

POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

Question #7

Which principle says that people should elect representatives to make decisions in the government?

REPUBLICANISM