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The 7 Principles of the United States Constitution. I. Popular Sovereignty. The people hold the ultimate authority Americans share in the power to govern themselves. II. Republicanism. Based on the belief that people exercise their power by VOTING for their political representatives.
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I. Popular Sovereignty The people hold the ultimate authority Americans share in the power to govern themselves.
II. Republicanism • Based on the belief that people exercise their power by VOTING for their political representatives. • The Constitution calls for every state to have a Republican form of government.
III. Federalism The division of power between State and National Governments Some powers are shared The National Government has the “supreme power”
IV. Separation of Powers No one holds “too much” power Legislative branch makes the laws Executive branch carries out the laws Judicial branch interprets the laws
V. Checks & Balances • Each branch of government can exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches. • Though the branches of government are separate, they rely on one another to perform the work of government. • The Framers included this system to make sure the branches worked together fairly.
VI. Limited Government Framers wanted to guard against tyranny Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution. The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed
VII. Individual Rights • The 1st 10 Amendments of the Constitution shield people from an overly powerful government. • These are called the Bill of Rights. • The Bill of Rights guarantees certain individual rights, or personal liberties & privileges.
Legislative Branch Senate and House of Representatives Make our laws Appropriate Money Regulate Immigration Establish Post Offices and Roads Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation Declare War
Executive Branch The President of the United States Chief Executive Chief of State Chief Legislator Commander in Chief
Judicial Branch Supreme Court and other Federal Courts Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution Considers cases involving national laws Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional”
Executive Checks Propose laws to Congress Veto laws made by Congress Negotiate foreign treaties Appoint federal judges Grant pardons to federal offenders
Legislative Checks Override president’s veto Ratify treaties Confirm executive appointments Impeach federal officers and judges Create and dissolve lower federal courts
Judicial Checks Declare executive acts unconstitutional Declare laws unconstitutional Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional The Supreme Court holds the final check