Basic Principles of the Constitution Outline of The

Basic Principles of the Constitution

Outline of The Constitution is organized into eight sections: § Preamble § Seven Articles: 1) Article I- Legislative Branch 2) Article II- Executive Branch 3) Article III- Judicial Branch 4) Article IV- relations among the states 5) Article V- Amending the Constitution 6) Article VI- Constitution is the supreme law 7) Article VII- ratification § 27 Amendments

Principles of the Constitution 6 basic principles: - Popular Sovereignty - Limited Government - Federalism - Separation of Powers - Checks & Balances - Judicial Review

Popular Sovereignty § “We the people…………” § Means “authority of the people” § U. S. citizens give their permission to be governed, and in return specify the powers & rules by which they are governed

Limited Government § specifically outlines the powers that each branch of government is given § powers not listed are granted only by the people’s permission § Rule of law- government and its officials are always subject to and never above the law

Federalism § Division of powers between the central and state governments § States are allowed to deal with their own needs in their own way. § Central government deals with issues that involve all Americans

Judicial Branch Executive Branch Legislative Branch Separation of Powers § Legislative Branch(Congress): makes our national laws § Executive Branch(President): carries out/oversees our national laws § Judicial Branch(Supreme Court): interprets and applies the law

Checks & Balances § Constitution gives each branch power, or “check”, over the other one to “balance” their power. For example: • President can veto any Congressional law & selects the Supreme Court • Congress can impeach the President & reject Supreme Court appointments • Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress and the President unconstitutional

Judicial Review § Power of a court to “determine the constitutionality of a government action” § Power of judicial review is held by all federal courts and by most state courts.