Unit 1.4 Constitutional Principles UNIT 1. PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT Purposes of the Governmental System Types of Governmental Systems Historical.

Unit 1.4 Unit 1.4 Constitutional Constitutional

PrinciplesPrinciples

UNIT 1. PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

Purposes of the Governmental System

Types of Governmental Systems Historical Foundations of

American Government Principles of the American

Governmental System Federalism

PRINCIPLES OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM

6 Constitutional Principles Amendments Process

Principles of the American Governmental System

Learning Outcomes1) Explain how constitutions can protect rights and promote the

general welfare. 2) Analyze the meaning and importance of values and

principles fundamental to democracy in the United States (e.g. representative democracy, rule of law, limited government, majority rule).

3) Explain the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and corresponding responsibilities of citizens.

4) Apply the basic principles on which the United States Constitution is based to contemporary situations.

5)(H) Analyze specific current events or issues as illustrations of the principles of democracy

6) Explain how the Constitution ensures the people’s authority over the government.

Principles of the American Governmental System

Unit 1.4 Principles of Unit 1.4 Principles of American GovAmerican Gov’’tt

Principle 1: Popular Sovereignty

• The people are the source for gov’t power

• Gov’t governs with the consent of the people

• Gov’t uses their powers thru popularly elected representatives

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a

more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic

tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the

general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to

ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this

Constitution for the United States of America.”

- Preamble of US Constitution

Principle 2: Limited Government

• No gov’t is all powerful

• Gov’t must obey the law• Constitution• Rule of Law

• Gov’t in which its functions and powers are written, limited, and restricted by law to protect the citizenry.

National Government• May not violate the Bill of Rights • May not impose export taxes among states • May not use money from the Treasury

without the passage and approval of an appropriations bill

• May not change state boundaries

State Government• May not enter into treaties with other

countries • May not print money • May not tax imports or exports • May not Impair obligations of contracts • May not suspend a person's rights

without due process

Principle 3: Separation of Powers

A way of dividing power among three branches of government in which members

of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the president, and the federal

courts are selected by and responsible to different constituencies.• Remember

the ideas of Montesquieu

Principle 4: Checks and Balances

A government structure that gives each of

the three branches of government

some degree of oversight and

control over the actions of the

others

Principle 4: Checks and Balances

• Veto – President may reject any act of Congress• Override – Congress can overturn or reverse a veto

with 2/3 vote of each house.

Principle 5: Judicial Review• Can be considered an act of

Checks & Balances• Power of the court to rule

on the constitutionality of a gov’t action.• In other words. . . Are the gov’t’s

actions in line with the US Constitution?

• Established power in Marbury v. Madison by Chief Justice John Marshall

Marbury v. Madison (1803)YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ALL THIS, IT JUST HELPS

SET THE STAGE FOR THE SIGNIFICANCEWilliam Marbury brought his case directly to the Supreme Court

because the Court had original

jurisdiction over the case. He asked the Court to issue a writ of mandamus*

to order James Madison to deliver his commission.

*An order from a court to an inferior government official ordering the government official to properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion.

• Supreme Court of the United States • The Supreme Court of the United States

declared that:• Marbury is entitled to the commission,

but: • The Court cannot issue the writ because

the Judiciary Act of 1789, which granted the Supreme Court original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, is unconstitutional.

• The Supreme Court of the United States has the power to review acts of other branches and determine their constitutionality. This power is called judicial review.

Principle 6: Federalism (same as Federal Gov’t/System)

• System of government in which power is divided/shared between the national government and the state (local) governments

• Independent states bound together under a national government

WHITE BOARD WARM UP QUESTIONS

PLEASE GRAB A WHITE BOARD AND TAKE YOUR SEAT

WRITE THE WORD/PHRASE THAT MATCHES THE DEFINITION GIVEN

ON YOUR WHITE BOARD

1) Divides power among the 3 branches

Popular SovereigntyLimited GovernmentSeparation of PowersChecks and Balance

Judicial ReviewFederalism

2) Power is divided or shared between the central government and local/state

governments.Popular SovereigntyLimited GovernmentSeparation of PowersChecks and Balance


3) Government governs with the consent of the

people.Popular SovereigntyLimited GovernmentSeparation of PowersChecks and Balance


4) Power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality

of a government action



5) Government’s power is restricted by the law to

protect the people.



6) Each branch has some oversight or control over

another



7) Case that established Judicial Review

Cartoon #1Which constitutional principle is represented in this cartoon?

Explain your reasoning.







Warm Up/Review Please complete the following tasks:

1. Hand in your Declaration of Independence Assignment in the bin on the front table (don’t forget the pink form is to be on top).

2. To prepare for next class period’s quiz on the 6 Principles, create Vocabulary Cards for the following terms:

Limited governmentRule of lawSeparation of powersChecks and balancesPopular sovereigntyFederalismJudicial reviewMarbury v. Madison (1803)

Amendment Process• There are 2 ways to amend the Constitution.

Unit 1.4 Constitutional Principles UNIT 1. PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT Purposes of the Governmental System Types of Governmental Systems Historical.

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