Principles of the Constitution

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Principles of the Constitution

• Chapter 8
• Section 1

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The Constitution rests on seven basic principles

• Popular Sovereignty
• Limited Government
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Federalism
• Republicanism
• Individual Rights

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Popular Sovereignty

• People power
• The PEOPLE have the right to alter or abolish
  their government.
• The Preamble, or opening statement,
• of the Constitution begins We the people. . .

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Limited Government

• The government has only the powers that the
  Constitution gives it.
• No one is above the law. Even government
  officials must obey the law.

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Separation of Powers

• The Constitution divides the government into
  three branches.

Makes the laws
Interprets the laws
Executes the laws
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Checks and Balances

• Each branch of government has the power to check,
  or limit, the actions of the other two.
• This guards against the abuse of power.

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Can Override Presidential Veto
Can Declare Actions Unconstitutional
Can Impeach And Remove President
Can Veto Laws
Appoints Federal Judges
Can Declare Acts of Congress Unconstitutional
Can Impeach
and Remove Judges
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Review ExerciseBased on the previous chart,
fill in 1 example of each the following
Checks on the Legislative Branch
Checks on the Judicial Branch
Executive Branch
Checks on the Executive Branch
Checks on the Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
Checks on the Executive Branch
Checks on the Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch
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Federalism

• The division of power between the federal
  government and the states.

Federal Powers
State Powers
Shared Powers
- Create and Maintain an Army
-Establish and Maintain Schools
-POWER TO TAX
- Coin Money
-Grant licenses
-POWER TO BORROW MONEY
-Declare War
-Provide For Public Safety
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ComprehensionDirections Without looking back
at the previous slide, answer each of the
following questions.

• Name one power that is reserved to the states.
• _________________________
• Name one power that is delegated to the federal
  government.
• _________________________
• Name one power that is shared by the federal
  government and the states.
• _________________________

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Republicanism

• We elect representatives to carry out our will.

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Individual Rights

• The Bill of Rights in the Constitution protects
  individual rights, such as freedom of speech,
  freedom of religion, and the right to trial by
  jury.
• Example The Fourth Amendment to the
  Constitution protects citizens from illegal
  searches and seizures by the government.
• DO YOU KNOW What do the police need to have
  in order to search your house? ___________________
  ____________________