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The Constitution

The document outlines the key principles of the United States Constitution including popular sovereignty, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. It describes popular sovereignty as the people holding ultimate authority through elected representatives. Limited government establishes that the government is restricted to the powers defined in the Constitution. Federalism divides power between state and national governments with some shared powers and the national government having supreme power. Separation of powers means no single branch can accumulate too much power as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches each have distinct roles. Checks and balances allows each branch to limit the other branches from abusing power.

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380 views

The Constitution

The document outlines the key principles of the United States Constitution including popular sovereignty, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. It describes popular sovereignty as the people holding ultimate authority through elected representatives. Limited government establishes that the government is restricted to the powers defined in the Constitution. Federalism divides power between state and national governments with some shared powers and the national government having supreme power. Separation of powers means no single branch can accumulate too much power as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches each have distinct roles. Checks and balances allows each branch to limit the other branches from abusing power.

Uploaded by

misssees
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Principles of the

United States Constitution

I. Popular Sovereignty
The people hold the ultimate authority
A representative democracy lets the people

elect leaders to make decisions for them.


Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett, and Chris
Cannon are our elected officials in Congress

II. 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

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

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

V. Checks and Balances


Prevents the abuse of power in government
Each branch can check each other branch

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 presidents 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

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