Constitution Principles

Principles of the U.S. Constitution

Reorder

Quick Recap: Put the following events in order as they occurred after the American Revolutionary War.

• The Articles of Confederation was created. It was super flawed.

• Shay's Rebellion showed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

• Delegates from each state met in Philadelphia to "fix" the Articles

• U.S. Constitution was written and sent to the states for ratification (approval)

• Anti-Federalists refused to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights

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2

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5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

If you recall...

• The Federalists liked the Constitution as it was - they thought no changes were necessary to it. (These were the people that had wanted a stronger central govt.)

• The Anti-Federalists thought the Constitution was too powerful and weakened the states (They had liked the states being powerful under​ the Articles.)

• The Anti-Federalists also thought the Constitution didn't do enough to protect individual liberties, so to win them over, Federalists like James Madison promised to include a Bill of Rights to the Constitution if the Anti-Federalists would agree to ratify

• The U.S. Constitution​ went into effect on March 9, 1789

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​Solution:

Multiple Select

Which of the following is something you believe is covered in the Bill of Rights? (SELECT THREE)

• Freedom of Religion, Speech, & Press

• Set the national voting age

• Abolished Slavery

• Right to a fair & speedy trial

• No cruel or unusual punishment

What principles are the Constitution based on?

1. Popular Sovereignty

2. Limited Government

3. Rule of Law

4. Separation of Powers

5. Checks & Balances

6. Federalism​

Popular Sovereignty:

Definition: The government receives its power from the PEOPLE

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Meaning: True power lies with the people.

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So: Voting DOES matter because it's how​ we express our will.

Multiple Choice

Which line of the Declaration of Independence reflects the idea of Popular Sovereignty?

• We hold these truths to be self-evident...

• We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights...

• Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

• That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends...

Limited Government:

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Definition: Rulers & governments are not all-powerful; governments can only do what we allow them to do.

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Meaning: The Founding Fathers didn't want a govt. that was TOO powerful that would trample over our rights.

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So: Governments like ours have to take our wants into consideration.

Open Ended

Why would the Founding Fathers, most of whom were involved in government & politics, not want the new government to have unlimited power?

Rule of Law:

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Definition: the law applies to EVERYONE, even those who govern.

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Meaning: Justice is blind - in theory.

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So: Rich or poor, weak or powerful, everyone is SUPPOSED to be equal in the eyes of the law.

Poll

In our country, everyone is SUPPOSED to be treated equally under the law and held accountable to the same standards. Do you think that's the reality?

• Yes, always.

• No, never.

• Often times, but not always.

• Sometimes, but hardly ever.

Separation of Powers:

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Definition: Split authority among the legislative, executive, & judicial branches

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Meaning: We don't have all of our eggs in one govt. basket like we did under the Articles

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So: One branch of govt. cannot become too powerful under this system.

Match

Match the following branch of government to what you think that branch does.

• Legislative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

Makes the laws

Enforces the laws

Interprets the laws

• Makes the laws

• Enforces the laws

• Interprets the laws

Checks & Balances:

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Definition: System in which each branch of govt. can check, or restrain, the power of the other branches.

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Meaning: Each branch has a little bit of control or power over the other branches.

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So: Each branch has someone they have to answer to.

Open Ended

(Click on the picture to zoom in if you need to)

Give ONE example of how the legislative or judicial branch can "check" the power of a U.S. president (hat)?

Federalism:

​Definition: power is divided between the federal (national) govt. & states

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Meaning: The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, but states can do some stuff too.

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So: There are some things left up to states to decide.

Reorder

There are really three levels of government in the U.S. Rank them in order of least powerful to most powerful.

• Local

• State

• Federal

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2

3

• 1
• 2
• 3

REVIEW:

You can use your vocab. for this section.

Multiple Choice

Which principle implies that government officials have to obey the laws they make?

• Separation of Powers

• Checks & Balances

• Popular Sovereignty

• Rule of Law

Multiple Choice

Which principles of the Constitution divides powers fairly among the branches?

• Limited Government

• Rule of Law

• Separation of Powers

• Federalism

Multiple Choice

Which principle of the Constitution says that governments get their power from the people they rule?

• Popular Sovereignty

• Federalism

• Rule of Law

• Limited Government

Multiple Choice

Which principle divides power between the national government & state governments?

• Popular Sovereignty

• Federalism

• Rule of Law

• Checks & Balances

Multiple Choice

Which principle of the Constitution keeps power balanced by allowing each branch a measure of control over the others?

• Checks & Balances

• Federalism

• Limited Government

• Popular Sovereignty

Multiple Choice

Which principle of the Constitution implies that our government is powerful but not all-powerful?

• Separation of Powers

• Limited Government

• Rule of Law

• Federalism