SIX PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT The Constitution is built

SIX PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT The Constitution is built around six basic principles of government.

#1: POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY All political power resides with the people § The People have the Power! § Think back to the Declaration of Independence § Government can only govern with the consent of the governed!

#2: LIMITED GOVERNMENT No government should be all powerful; it should only be able to do what the people have given it the power to do! Our Constitution limits the power of government! Even the government must obey the law!

#3: SEPARATION OF POWERS The Constitution separates the powers between the three branches (Legislative, Executive and Judicial) so that no one branch can become too powerful and/or corrupt

#4: CHECK AND BALANCES The national government is organized into three separate branches and each branch has been given the power to “check” the power of the other branches in certain ways to be certain that each branch does not act beyond its authority!

#5: JUDICIAL REVIEW The power of the courts to determine whether what government does is in accordance with the Constitution.

#6: FEDERALISM The Constitution divides power between the National Government and the state governments. § Another division of powers to protect against an all powerful national government!