Popular SovereigntyPeople give government the

power to rule

Limited GovernmentGovernment is NOT all powerful;

can only do what people giveit power to do

Separation of PowersThree branches – executive,

legislative, judicial…all separate,but equal in powers

Checks and BalancesEach branch can check the othertwo branches to avoid too much

power in one branch

Judicial ReviewCourts can declare something

unconstitutional if laws don’t meetthe intent of the Constitution

FederalismNational government has power, butalso state governments have power

as well

The United States Constitution is over two hundred years old. It is the longest written constitution in the world. It has lasted as the

country has changed dramatically. The reason why…

Formal Amendments – written additions and/or changes to the Constitution

Proposed by 2/3 vote in eachHouse of Congress and ratified by

3/4 of state legislatures

Proposed by Congress and thenratified in a special convention

called for in 3/4 of the states

Proposed by a national conventioncalled by Congress at the request

of 2/3 of the state legislatures

Proposed by a national conventionand ratified by conventions in

3/4 of the states

Informal Amendments to the Constitution are…

Changes to the Constitution that have not actually changed what is written in the Constitution

The Laws Themselves…Thousands have been passed

since the Constitution was written

The Power of the PresidentPresidents today are much

more powerful thanthey were 200 years ago

Court DecisionsThe Supreme Court has had thousands of decisions sincethe Constitution was written

CustomsThroughout history, times have

changed how Americans dothings