Lesson: Principles in the U.S. Constitution

Lesson: Principles in the U.S. Constitution

This lesson is not timed (going fast will not increase your standing.) Make sure you read/watch everything. Accuracy is the only thing that will determine your status on the leaderboard

Principles

A principle is a belief that is very important to someone/something and it guides their actions. (This word is spelled differently from principal: leader of a school)

Multiple Choice

What is a principle?

• The leader of a school

• The president of a country

• A belief that is important to something/someone

• A limitation on the power of government

Principles in the U.S. Constitution

There are 7 major principles in the U.S. Constitution. In this lesson you will learn about the 7 ideas that are the foundation of our country's government.

Popular Sovereignty

• This principle is also called consent of the governed.

• Popular sovereignty means that the people are the source of the government's power

• This idea was expressed in the Declaration of Independence

• This idea is also found in the Preamble to the Constitution when it states "We The People" which means that the people rule in this government

Multiple Choice

Which of the following images best represents the idea of popular sovereignty?

Republicanism

• The idea that the people have a say in government through elected representatives 

• You can remember this because it begins with REP just like a representative

• Republicanism is the principle

• A Republic is a type of government, also called Representative Democracy. This is the type of government we have in the U.S.

• This term is not the same thing as the political party

Multiple Choice

Which of the following images best represents the principle of republicanism?

Multiple Choice

Let's review what we have learned so far....

Which of the following principles best fits with the first three words of the U.S. Constitution: "WE THE PEOPLE"

• Federalism

• Republicanism

• Separation of Powers

• Popular Soverignty

​"We the People" represents the principle of Popular Sovereignty which means that government power comes from the people (a.k.a consent of the governed)

​If you chose republicanism you are close but not quite... republicanism is specifically about electing representatives to represent the people

Multiple Choice

Let's review what we have learned so far....

Which of the following principles best fits with the House of Representatives

• Federalism

• Republicanism

• Checks and Balances

• Popular Soverignty

The House of Representatives is a part of our government that has representatives of the people. This fits with the principle of republicanism which states people have a say in government by electing representatives

2 down, 5 more principles to learn... You've got this!

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Limited Government

•  The idea that government powers should be limited to only be allowed to do what is stated in Constitution

• Government leaders must follow the law just like citizens

Multiple Choice

Which of the following images best represents the idea of limited government?

Separation of Powers

• The idea of dividing government powers into three branches: Legislative, Executive and Judicial

• The goal of creating three branches with separate powers is to ensure that no member of government can have too much power

Multiple Choice

Which of the following images best represents the idea of separation of powers?

Checks and Balances

•  The idea that each branch has certain powers that allow it to limit the power of the other branches of government 

• This ensures that no branch can become to powerful

Multiple Choice

Which of the following images best represents the principle of checks and balances?

Multiple Choice

Let's review what we have learned so far....

Which of the following best represents government leaders are required to follow what is stated in the U.S. Constitution

• Checks and Balances

• Republicanism

• Separation of Powers

• Limited Government

Think of the Constitution as a LIMITATION on the people in government. Government leaders are limited to do only what is stated in this rule book, called the U.S. Constitution

Multiple Choice

Let's review what we have learned so far....

Legislative, Executive and Judicial best relates to which principle?

• Checks and Balances

• Republicanism

• Separation of Powers

• Limited Government

Think of each branch as SEPARATING out the power of government

Multiple Choice

Let's review what we have learned so far....

The President can veto a law passed by Congress. This is an example of

• Checks and Balances

• Republicanism

• Separation of Powers

• Limited Government

When one branch limits the power of another branch. In this example the Executive (President) is limiting the power of Legislative (Congress)

Federalism

•  The idea that power should be divided into two levels of government: state and federal 

• This principle ensures that neither the federal or state government can become too powerful.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following images best represents the principle of federalism?

Limiting Power

There are many ways in which the governments power is limited:

1. The government is first separated into 2 levels: Federal and State government

2. Within the federal government and state governments there are three branches of government (separation of powers)

3. Those branches have checks and balances on each other

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the principles of federalism, separation of powers and checks and balances?

• They all ensure the rights of the people

• They all limit the power of the government

• They all protect the power of the government

• They all create three branches

Individual Rights

• The idea that people have rights that should be protected by the government 

• This is represented by the Bill of Rights

• The arguments of the Anti-Federalists helped to get the protection of individual rights into the U.S. Constitution

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the principle of individual rights?

Review of all Principles!

Multiple Choice

The principle that government leaders should only be able to do what is stated in the Constitution

• Federalism

• Individual Rights

• Checks and Balances

• Limited government

Multiple Choice

The principle that government power should be divided into 2 levels: state and federal

• Federalism

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances

• Limited government

Multiple Choice

The principle that government power should be divided into 3 branches

• Federalism

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances

• Limited government

Multiple Choice

The principle that each branch of government should limit the power of the other branches

• Popular Sovereignty

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances

• Limited government

Multiple Choice

The principle that government should protect the rights of individuals

• Popular Sovereignty

• Individual Rights

• Republicanism

• Limited government

Multiple Choice

The idea that governments power comes from the people

• Popular Sovereignty

• Individual Rights

• Federalism

• Limited government

Multiple Choice

The idea that government get a say in government by electing representatives

• Popular Sovereignty

• Republicanism

• Federalism

• Limited government

Draw

What is one principle have you been getting wrong in the lesson? Draw a picture to represent that principle and label it on the canvass below