The Constitution

1. The Constitution

2. 7 Major Principles of Government Popular Sovereignty Seperation of Powers Checks and Balances Individual Rights Limited Government Federalism Republicanism

3. Popular Sovereignty “Authority of the People” • The people give consent to be governed and specify the powers and rules by which they shall be governed. • Has greater powers and influence, but also has specific limitations. • A system of interlocking responsibilities keeps any one branch from becoming too powerful.

4. Republicanism • Voters hold the sovereign power in a Republican system. • The people elect representatives and give them the reponsibility to make laws and conduct government. • “A system of limited government where the people are the final source of authority.”

5. Limited Government • Framers agreed a strong central authority was needed, but they feared the misuse of power. • By creating a limited government, they restricted the government’s authority to specific powers granted by the people. • Article I of the Constitution states what powers the government has and does not have. • Other limits appear in the Bill of Rights, which guarantees certain rights and liberties to the people.

6. Seperation of Powers • To prevent any group from gaining too much power, the Framers divided the federal government into three branches. • Legislative Branch (Congress): Makes the laws. • Executive Branch (President): Carries out the laws. • Judicial Branch (Supreme Court): Interprets and applies laws.

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