Aim: What are the principles of the

Constitution?

Do Now: Read the Preamble and respond

1. According to the Preamble to the

US Constitution, who created the

U.S. government?

2. Why was the US Constitution

created? [List 6 reasons]

Parts of Constitution• Preamble = introduction “We the people”

• 7 Articles:– Article 1: Legislative Branch

– Article 2: Executive Branch

– Article 3: Judicial Branch

– Article 4: Relations between the States

– Article 5: Amending process

– Article 6: Constitution is Supreme Law of Land

– Article 7: Ratification process

What are Principles?

• A principle is a kind of rule, belief,

or idea that guides you.

• Principles guide the Constitution.

They are the values and beliefs of

the country.

What are the 6 Principles of the

Constitution?

1. Separation of powers

2. Checks and Balances

3. Popular Sovereignty

4. Republicanism

5. Federalism

6. Supremacy of National Laws & Judicial

Review

1. Separation of PowersGovernment is divided into 3 branches

• Executive (headed by President)

carries out the laws

• Legislative (Congress) makes the

laws

• Judicial (courts) explains and

interprets the laws

2. Checks & Balances• Each branch of government limits

the power of the other branches.

• No one branch is more powerful

Example;

• Executive vetoes

• Judicial overturns

• Legislative overrides

3. Popular Sovereignty

• Government gets its

authority from the people

= Social Contract

• People have the right to

change or abolish their

government

4. Republicanism • Government run by the people

through elected representatives

5. Federalism • Division of power between the National

gov. and the States gov.

-Some powers are given (delegated)

to the National gov. while other

powers are kept (reserved) by the

states

Federal or

National gov.

State gov.

Local or City

gov.

President

Barrack

ObamaGovernor

Andrew

Cuomo

Mayor Bill

DeBlasio

FBI

State

Troopers

NYPD

6. Supremacy of National

Laws & Judicial Review• The Constitution includes a

Supremacy Clause that declares

that the national gov. has authority

(is superior) to the states’ gov.

• The US Supreme Court has the

power of Judicial Review to

declare national, state, or city acts

of government or laws invalid.

Closure:

–Which Constitutional

principle is most

important?

WHY???