The Constitut ion Ch. 3, Section 1
The ConstitutionCh. 3, Section 1
Six Main Principles- p. 70-71
Popular Sovereignty
Rule by the people
Consent of the governed Citizens (aka
“the governed”) must give their consent, or “OK”, for the government to function
Federalism- diagram on p. 74
Power divided between state and national governments
Why federal and not unitary? Articles of Confederation had failed so no one
wanted the states to have all the power BUT people we’re still scared to give all the
power to the national government
National government acts for country as a whole
State governments control more local issues
Separation of Powers
3 branches (legislative, executive, judicial)
Each branch has its own responsibilities
Keeps any one branch from gaining too much power
Checks and Balances(see chart on p. 73)
Each branch has some control over the otherPresident can check Congress by vetoing
the laws it passesCongress can check the president by
overriding that veto (2/3 of each house has to agree)
Courts can check Congress by ruling their laws as unconstitutional
President can check courts by appointing judges, but the senate must approve
Judicial Review
Ability of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Supreme court has final say
Constitution does not directly give the courts this power, but it does say “judicial power shall extend to all cases arising under the Constitution”
Marbury vs. Madison- court case giving federal courts the power to rule on the actions of the government
Limited Government
Constitution lists the powers the government has and the powers it does not have
First 10 amendments (bill of rights) are examples of these limits
Protects the country from the abuse of power