The Six Basic The Six Basic PrinciplesPrinciples

of the Constitutionof the Constitution

For Your InformationFor Your Information Objective:Objective: Students will be able to Students will be able to

identify and explain the six basic identify and explain the six basic principles of the Constitutionprinciples of the Constitution

Thinking Skill:Thinking Skill: Demonstrate Demonstrate understanding of concepts understanding of concepts

InformationInformation Written in 1787Written in 1787 Took effect 1789Took effect 1789 Vitally important and vibrant documentVitally important and vibrant document ““Supreme Law of the Land”Supreme Law of the Land” Lays out basic framework and Lays out basic framework and

procedures of our governmentprocedures of our government Sets out the limits within which that Sets out the limits within which that

government must conduct itselfgovernment must conduct itself

Weaknesses of Articles of Weaknesses of Articles of ConfederationConfederation

States were fiercely independentStates were fiercely independent Weaknesses:Weaknesses: Instability of UnionInstability of Union No Judicial BranchNo Judicial Branch Powerless Executive BranchPowerless Executive Branch No Power to Regulate CommerceNo Power to Regulate Commerce No Power to TaxNo Power to Tax Couldn’t provide for national defenseCouldn’t provide for national defense Each state had one vote, regardless of sizeEach state had one vote, regardless of size 9 of 13 required for law; Unanimous to amend9 of 13 required for law; Unanimous to amend

CompromisesCompromises

Great CompromiseGreat Compromise

3/5 Compromise (ended with 133/5 Compromise (ended with 13thth Amt. Amt. in 1865)in 1865)

Commerce and Slave Trade Commerce and Slave Trade CompromiseCompromise

Injustices in the ConstitutionInjustices in the Constitution Amendments making the Amendments making the

Constitutionre inclusive:Constitutionre inclusive: African Americans (13African Americans (13thth, 14, 14thth, 15, 15thth))

Women Women (14 (14thth, 19, 19thth))

Native Americans (14Native Americans (14thth))

Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty The people have supreme authorityThe people have supreme authority

the ‘consent of the governed’the ‘consent of the governed’

Limited GovernmentLimited Government Government has Government has

ONLY the powers ONLY the powers given to it by the given to it by the peoplepeople

Rule of Law / Rule of Law / Constitutionalism: Constitutionalism: Leaders are never Leaders are never above the lawabove the law

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary

powers separated into 3 branchespowers separated into 3 branches Compare to Parliamentary system: Compare to Parliamentary system:

Parliament is supreme and has both Parliament is supreme and has both legislative and executive powerslegislative and executive powers

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances Each branch restrained by other Each branch restrained by other

branchesbranches makes compromise necessarymakes compromise necessary prevents tyranny of majorityprevents tyranny of majority

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review One of checks and balancesOne of checks and balances Courts may rule that a law or an Courts may rule that a law or an

action of an executive officer is action of an executive officer is unconstitutionalunconstitutional

Not mentioned in the ConstitutionNot mentioned in the Constitution

FederalismFederalism Power divided b/w national and state Power divided b/w national and state

governmentsgovernments Powers not granted to the national Powers not granted to the national

govt. are reserved to the statesgovt. are reserved to the states

U.S. ConstitutionU.S. ConstitutionSection Section SubjectSubject

PreamblePreamble Article IArticle I Article IIArticle II Article IIIArticle III Article IVArticle IV Article VArticle V Article VIArticle VI

Article VIIArticle VII

PurposePurpose Legislative BranchLegislative Branch Executive BranchExecutive Branch Judicial Branch Judicial Branch Relations among Sts.Relations among Sts. AmendingAmending Nt. Debts, Nt. Debts,

supremacy of supremacy of national law, oathsnational law, oaths

Ratifying ConstitutionRatifying Constitution