Chapter 4.1 Powers and Responsibilities Set up by US Constitution
• The US Constitution was founded on 5 principles
– What was the goal?
• To make a government that would exist forever!
5 Principles of Constitution
Limited Government
Separation of Powers
Checks and Balances
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty
• The people hold the ultimate authority
• A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them
Limited Government
• Framers wanted to guard against tyranny
• Government is limited to the power given to them in the Constitution.
• Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed
Separation of Powers
• No one holds “too much” power
• Legislative branch makes the laws
• Executive branch carries out the laws
• Legislative branch interprets the laws
Checks and Balances
• US Constitution prevents the abuse of power by one government by another.
• How? – Checks and balances
• Each government has a power over the another.
Federalism• The division of power between State and
National Governments– Best of both worlds…. Sort of.
– How does it work? • The National Government has the “supreme
power” over all of the states
• BUT, states have rights guaranteed to them as well.
Powers of the federal government given by the Constitution
• 3 powers:
– Expressed powers• Powers written specifically in the Constitution
– Implied powers• Powers that are suggested in the Constitution by the expressed
powers
– Inherent• Powers that naturally belong to any government of a sovereign
nation.
Expressed Powers• Powers that the Constitution specifically grants to
the federal government
• Examples:– Article I, Section 8
• Lists expressed powers of the legislative branch– Make laws– Regulate trade– Declare war, etc.
– Article II, Section 2• POTUS is the Commander in Chief
– Article III, Section 2• Supreme Court has final say on all cases concerning
Constitutional rights.
Implied Powers• Powers suggested by the expressed powers
of the US Constitution
• Examples: – Article I, Section 8
• Gives Congress power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper”
– Necessary to ensure they can do their job.
• Sometimes called the elastic clause– Allows Congress to ‘stretch’ its authority in ways not
specifically granted or denied
Inherent Powers• Powers that naturally belong to any
sovereign government
– Not mentioned directly in the Constitution
– Examples: • Right for our government to deal with other foreign
affairs– Such as United Nations, NATO, etc.
Powers Given to State Governments by the US Constitution
• Reserved Powers– Powers given directly to
state governments• Examples:
– Regulate trade within a state
– Establish local governments
– Conduct local elections
– Establish public school systems
Powers shared by federal and state governments
• Concurrent Powers
– Powers that the Constitution neither grants exclusively to the federal government nor denies to the states.
– Examples:• Both federal and states can:
– Establish and enforce laws– Collect taxes– Borrow money
As a review… • Powers within the
Constitution
– Expressed powers
– Implied powers
– Inherent powers
– Reserved powers
– Concurrent powers
– Defeat all Commies!!!
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