I use a flip chart for the 7 Principles that the kids make and can take notes on. There are diagrams on some of the slides too. Definitions are included on every slide along with examples of each principle.

1. 7 Principles of the Constitution
How Does the Constitution Work

2. The United States Constitution
Quick Facts
• Signed into being on September 17, 1787 forming
the basis for US Government.
• 3 Parts:
– Preamble—Introduction; establishes purpose of US
government
– Articles—7 articles provide guidelines for how
government will operate
– Amendments—27 changes to the original document
make Constitution a “living document”

3. What is a Principle?
• A principle is a basic rule that guides and
influences thought or action.
• Principles guide our decision-making,
thus keep us in order .
• What principles do you live by and why?
• How do those principles affect your
everyday actions?

4. American Principles
• Where do guiding
US principles come
from?
(1) old US documents
(2) Philosophers
(Enlightenment)
(3) old world documents
• The government
follows these
principles when
making laws &
decisions.
7 Guiding Principles7 Guiding Principles::
1. Popular Sovereignty1. Popular Sovereignty
2. Republicanism2. Republicanism
3. Federalism3. Federalism
4. Separation of Powers4. Separation of Powers
5. Checks and Balances5. Checks and Balances
6. Limited Government6. Limited Government
7. Individual Rights7. Individual Rights

5. Popular Sovereignty
• Definition – A government in which the
people rule
• Popular: People
• Sovereignty: Power or Controller
• This means they participate by voting.
• Example – People can run for office,
campaign for individuals who run, or
protest decisions made by others.

6. Republicanism
• Definition – People vote for people to
represent their views. (Representative
Government)
• You can’t have the whole population vote
on everything, so you vote on people who
share similar beliefs and allow them to vote.

7. Federalism
• Definition – A system of government in which powers
are shared by the state and national government.
• In our system, the national government does have
ultimate authority, but states have a lot to say in what
goes on as well.
• Powers for the national government = delegated
powers
• Powers for the state government = reserved powers
• Powers shared between the national and the state are
concurrent powers.

9. Separation of Power
• Definition – Divides the roles of
government into 3 branches:
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial
• Why? So that one person or one group of
people do not control everything and
become too powerful.

10. 3 Branches of the US Government

11. Check and Balances
• Definition – Each of the 3 branches of government
has a little control, or check, on the other 2
branches.
• This balances power between the 3, ensuring that
none of the branches get out of control.
• Example – Federal judges are nominated by the
President, but have to be approved by Congress.

12. Checks and Balances

13. Limited Government
• Definition – Everybody has to follow the
same laws, even members of the
government.
• If a Representative killed a man, he would
face a trial just like everybody else.

14. Individual Rights
• Definition – Personal liberties and
privileges that people are born with and can
not be taken away.
• The Bill of Rights, the first Ten
Amendments, was created to list out all of
these rights so people know when the
government tries to take them away.

15. Putting it all together…
Citizens and Government in the United States share
in a reciprocal relationship. While the power to
rule is derived from the people, the government is
bound by the Constitution to respect and guard the
rights of those citizens.
Challenge: In what ways do the Constitutional
principles imbedded in our founding document
ensure the people’s rights will be protected?