The Constitution Basic Principles Fundamental Principles l 1
The Constitution Basic Principles
Fundamental Principles l 1. Consent of the governed: People are the only source of governmental power. l 2. Limited government: The government may do only those things that the people have given it the power to do.
Fundamental Principles l 3. Separation of powers: Government is divided into three branches--legislative, executive, and judicial. l 4. Checks and Balances: This is a system whereby each branch of government exercises some control on the others.
Fundamental Principles 5. Federalism, powers are divided between the national government and state governments. l 6. Rule of Law: The Constitution of the United States of America is supreme and all individuals are accountable under the law. l
Outline of the Constitution Introduction of the Constitution is called the Preamble. l The next sections are called articles. l n Article I: Establishes the legislative branch of the national government setting forth the two houses of Congress to make laws.
Outline of Constitution n Article II: Establishes the executive branch to carry out the laws passed by Congress. n Article III: Creates the United States Supreme Court and empowers Congress to establish lower Federal Courts to interpret the laws.
Outline of the Constitution n Article IV: Relations among the states n Article V: Amending the Constitution n Article VI: National debts, supremacy of national law, and oaths of office n Article VII: Ratifying the Constitution
Outline of the Constitution l Amendments: n 1 -10: Bill of Rights n Total Amendments: 27
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