Basic Principles Basic Principles of the of the

United States United States ConstitutionConstitution

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

Popular = peoplePopular = people

Sovereignty = right, or power to Sovereignty = right, or power to rulerule

Popular sovereignty = Popular sovereignty =

–People should have the right People should have the right and the power to rule and the power to rule themselvesthemselves

How was popular sovereignty portrayed by...How was popular sovereignty portrayed by...

English English citizens?citizens?

Magna CartaMagna Carta

Glorious Glorious RevolutionRevolution

Parliament Parliament made up of made up of representatives representatives that the people that the people electedelected

Growth of Growth of democratic democratic governmentgovernment

American American colonists?colonists?

Creation of Creation of colonial colonial governments governments

Town Town meetingsmeetings

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Framers of the Framers of the Constitution?Constitution?

““We the We the People…”People…”

Gov’t must Gov’t must always reflect always reflect the will of the the will of the peoplepeople

Will of people Will of people expressed expressed through through electionselections

Limited GovernmentLimited GovernmentPower of the government should be limitedPower of the government should be limited

Our government may only do what the Our government may only do what the people give it the power to dopeople give it the power to do

Power denied to government in Constitution Power denied to government in Constitution and the Bill of Rightsand the Bill of Rights

Rule of law =Rule of law =– The law applies to everyone, even those The law applies to everyone, even those

who governwho govern

FederalismFederalismNational government and state governments National government and state governments share power.share power.

ENUMERATED ENUMERATED POWERSPOWERS

• Powers that the

Constitution gives to the

national government

only

RESERVED RESERVED POWERSPOWERS

• Powers that the

Constitution gives to the

states

CONCURRENT CONCURRENT POWERSPOWERS

• Powers that the national

and state governments

Supremacy clause: Supremacy clause: – The Constitution and the The Constitution and the

laws of the national laws of the national government are the “supreme government are the “supreme law of the land”.law of the land”.

What happens if there is a What happens if there is a conflict between federal and conflict between federal and

state authority?state authority?

Full Faith and Credit ClauseFull Faith and Credit Clause

States must recognize the laws, States must recognize the laws, records, and judicial decisions of records, and judicial decisions of other statesother states

Separation of PowersSeparation of PowersFramers wanted to make sure that no 1 Framers wanted to make sure that no 1 person or group of people gained too person or group of people gained too much power.much power.

Montesquieu gave the idea to clearly Montesquieu gave the idea to clearly separate the 3 branches of government:separate the 3 branches of government:

- - Legislative, Executive, JudicialLegislative, Executive, Judicial

System of System of checks and balanceschecks and balances makes makes sure that no one branch would gain too sure that no one branch would gain too much power.much power.

Each branch Each branch is not totally is not totally independent independent of the othersof the others

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review Courts may Courts may

determine whether determine whether or not what the or not what the President or President or Congress does is Congress does is ConstitutionalConstitutional