Constitution Principles and Checks

Constitutional Principles

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Multiple Choice

Which group thought the Constitution was a good plan for government?

• Anti-Federalists

• Federalists

Multiple Choice

Which group opposed the Constitution?

• Anti-Federalists

• Federalists

Multiple Choice

Which man was leader of the Anti-Federalists?

• George Washington

• James Madison

• Patrick Henry

• Alexander Hamilton

Multiple Choice

Which man was a leader of the Federalists?

• George Mason

• James Madison

• Patrick Henry

The Preamble to the Constitution is the introduction. It lists the purposes of the document.

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According to the Preamble, there are 6 purposes for the government of the US.

• form a more perfect union

• establish justice

• ensure domestic tranquility

• provide for the common defense

• promote the general welfare

• secure the blessings of liberty

Multiple Choice

"Form a more perfect union" means...............

• make a better map of the new states

• create a way for the new states to work together better

Multiple Choice

And "establish justice"????

• create a court system

• hire lawyers

Multiple Choice

What about "ensure domestic tranquility"?

• keep us safe within our borders

• protect us from outside threats

Multiple Choice

"Provide for the common defense" means to protect us from

• internal conflicts.

• external threats.

Multiple Choice

"Promote the general welfare" means to

• act in the best interest of the people.

• guarantee tax refunds to all.

Again in the Preamble (and in the rest of the Constitution), we find the basic ideas about how our democracy should operate. We've talked about some of these fundamental principles before.

1. CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED

This is the idea that the people are the source of the government's power.

2. LIMITED GOVERNMENT

Government has the power to do only those things that WE THE PEOPLE have given it power to do. The Constitution spells out the powers held by the government.

3. SEPARATION OF POWERS

Power in our national government is divided into 3 branches; legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch has its own powers and responsibilities, as well as specific limits.

4. CHECKS AND BALANCES

Each branch of government has ways to keep each of the other 2 branches from abusing their power. This is also the way we make sure no branch has more power than the other 2.

5. FEDERALISM

Federalism simply means that the powers of government are divided between national and state levels. Another way to think of this is layers of government. (national, state, local)

6. RULE OF LAW

This means the US Constitution is supreme to all other laws in the US and that EVERY PERSON in the US is subject to it.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CONSTITUTION - ARTICLES I, II, AND III SET UP THE BRANCHES, INCLUDING MEMBERSHIP, ORGANIZATION, AND POWERS

• Article I is about the legislative branch, Congress.

• Article II is about the executive branch, including the president.

• Article III is about the judicial branch, the Supreme Court.