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Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution. Basic stuff you need to know about the Constitution. Popular Sovereignty. Power belongs to the people The people decide who they want to be in power and those people can change. Popular Sovereignty.

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Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution

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  1. Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution Basic stuff you need to know about the Constitution.

  2. Popular Sovereignty • Power belongs to the people • The people decide who they want to be in power and those people can change.

  3. Popular Sovereignty • Our Constitution has many amendments that help protect our popular sovereignty • 15th amendment - African Americans • 17th amendment - Senators elected directly • 19th amendment - Voting rights for women • 24th amendment - Outlawed Poll Tax • 26th amendment - Voting age lowered to 18

  4. Think, Pair, Share • What is popular sovereignty? • How do people in a democracy delegate their authority?

  5. Limited Government • Constitution limits government • No one is “above the law”

  6. Think, Pair, Share • Why are the constitutional guarantees of personal freedom in the Bill of Rights an example of limited government?

  7. Separation of Powers • Separation of powers between the branches • Legislative - makes the laws • Executive - enforces the laws • Judicial - interprets the laws

  8. Separation of Powers • Each branch has a different constituency • Legislative • Representatives - Congressional district • Senator - State • Executive - entire nation • Judicial - Constitution

  9. Separation of Powers • Each branch has different lengths of terms • Legislative • Representative - 2 years • Senate - 6 years (1/3 elected every 2 years) • Executive - 4 years • Judicial – life

  10. Think, Pair, Share • What are the three branches of government? • Why are there three branches of government?

  11. Checks and Balances • Each branch has powers to limit the other branches • To ensure one branch does not have all of the power.

  12. Think, Pair, Share • Explain the system of checks and balances. • How is the system of checks and balances related to the principle of separation of powers?

  13. Judicial Review • Supremacy clause • the Constitution is the “Supreme Law of the Land” • Supreme court has the right to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.

  14. Think, Pair, Share • How does the principle of judicial review tie in with the principle of checks and balances?

  15. Federalism • Some powers are delegated to the national government while some powers are reserved for the states • States have their own laws, courts, constitutions and elected officials

  16. Think, Pair, Share • How does federalism provide for a dual system of government? • How does the process by which the constitution can be amended reflect the federal system of government?

  17. Six Basic Principles of the U.S. Government • Popular Sovereignty • Limited Government • Separation of Powers • Checks & Balances • Judicial Review • Federalism

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