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The Constitution. Political Dictionary. Popular sovereignty Limited government Constitutionalism/ Unconsitutionalism Rule of law Separation of powers Checks and balances Veto Judicial review Federalsim. It is the nation’s fundamental law Sets out basic principles
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Political Dictionary • Popular sovereignty • Limited government • Constitutionalism/ Unconsitutionalism • Rule of law • Separation of powers • Checks and balances • Veto • Judicial review • Federalsim
It is the nation’s fundamental law • Sets out basic principles • “Supreme law of the land” • Determines who wins and loses in political arena • Strength is that it deals mainly with principles • Seven articles (original), 27 amendments
Popular sovereignty- the people are the only source of any and all governmental power. • This principle is throughout Constitution. • Government exercises through popularly lead elections.
Limited government- holds that no government is all powerful. • May only do the things the people have given it power to do • Constitutionalism- government must be conducted according to constitutional principles. • Rule of law-government are always subject and never above the law.
Much of Constitution has prohibitions of power • Guarantees freedom of expression • Great guarantees-of freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, of assembly and of petition • 1st Amendment “Congress shall make no law…”
Separation of Powers – Three basic powers are distributed-separated-among three distinct and independent branches of government. • Article I declares all legislative power to Congress • Article II declares executive power in a President • Article III declares all judicial power to the Supreme Court • Framers wanted a strong central government with the power to be limited
