The Constitution

The Principals of the Constitution of the United States

Popular Sovereignty The people hold the ultimate authority A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

The people hold the ultimate authority

A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

II. Limited Gov’t Framers wanted to guard against tyranny Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution. The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

Framers wanted to guard against tyranny

Government is limited to the power given them in the Constitution.

The Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

III. Federalism The division of power between State and National Governments Some powers are shared The National Government has the “supreme power”

The division of power between State and National Governments

Some powers are shared

The National Government has the “supreme power”

IV. Separation of Powers No one holds “too much” power Legislative branch makes the laws Executive branch carries out the laws Legislative branch interprets the laws

No one holds “too much” power

Legislative branch makes the laws

Executive branch carries out the laws

Legislative branch interprets the laws

Legislative Branch Senate and House of Representatives Make our laws Elastic Clause Art 1 Section 8 The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. Appropriate Money Regulate Immigration Establish Post Offices and Roads Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation Declare War

Senate and House of Representatives

Make our laws Elastic Clause Art 1 Section 8

The Congress shall have Power - To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Appropriate Money

Regulate Immigration

Establish Post Offices and Roads

Regulate Interstate Commerce and Transportation

Declare War

Executive Branch The President of the United States Chief Executive Chief of State Chief Legislator Commander in Chief

The President of the United States

Chief Executive

Chief of State

Chief Legislator

Commander in Chief

Judicial Branch Supreme Court and other Federal Courts Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution Considers cases involving national laws Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional”

Supreme Court and other Federal Courts

Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution

Considers cases involving national laws

Declares laws and acts “unconstitutional”

V. Checks and Balances Prevents the abuse of power in government Each branch can check each other branch

Prevents the abuse of power in government

Each branch can check each other branch

Executive Checks Propose laws to Congress Veto laws made by Congress Negotiate foreign treaties Appoint federal judges Grant pardons to federal offenders

Propose laws to Congress

Veto laws made by Congress

Negotiate foreign treaties

Appoint federal judges

Grant pardons to federal offenders

Legislative Checks Override president’s veto Ratify treaties Confirm executive appointments Impeach federal officers and judges Create and dissolve lower federal courts

Override president’s veto

Ratify treaties

Confirm executive appointments

Impeach federal officers and judges

Create and dissolve lower federal courts

Judicial Checks Declare executive acts unconstitutional Declare laws unconstitutional Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional The Supreme Court holds the final check

Declare executive acts unconstitutional

Declare laws unconstitutional

Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional

The Supreme Court holds the final check

Check Your Knowledge Which of these definitions is false? Impeach —To be accused of doing something wrong. Federalism —A system of gov’t splitting powers between nat’l and state gov’t. Judicial Review —Power of the Supreme Court to pass laws. Concurrent power —Powers that are shared by state and nat’l government.

Which of these definitions is false?

Impeach —To be accused of doing something wrong.

Federalism —A system of gov’t splitting powers between nat’l and state gov’t.

Judicial Review —Power of the Supreme Court to pass laws.

Concurrent power —Powers that are shared by state

and nat’l government.

Check Your Knowledge T he Constitution was based on the principle of a. virtual representation b. supreme state governments c. supreme central government d. federalism

Check Your Knowledge The Federalists believed the passage of the Constitution was necessary to preserve the Union because a. individual states could reject national policy b. The Congress was getting too powerful c. the individual states had too little power d. A Bill of Rights was necessary