This document outlines several key constitutional principles: limited government which restricts total power for any authority figure and requires all to obey the law; republicanism where the people elect representatives to hold power; and checks and balances which prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. It also discusses federalism as the sharing of power between national and state governments, separation of powers which assigns specific powers to each branch, and popular sovereignty where ultimate political power rests with the people who exercise it through voting. Additionally, it defines individual rights as personal liberties people are born with that cannot be taken away, protected by the Bill of Rights.

1. CONSTITUTIONAL
PRINCIPLES

2. Limited Government
• All authority
figures must
obey the law
and no one
has total
power.

3. Republicanism
• People hold the power through
the election of representatives.
People Elect Representatives

4. Checks and Balances
• Prevents one branch of the
government from becoming too
powerful.
EXAMPLES:

5. Federalism
• The sharing
of power
between a
central
(national)
government
and states.

6. Separation of Powers
• Each branch of the government is
assigned specific powers.

7. Popular Sovereignty
• Political power rests with the
people.
• Exercised through voting.
Power ofPower of
the Peoplethe People

8. 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 governments tries to take them
away.