Post on 27-Feb-2018
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The Principles of the
United States Constitution
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I. Popular Sovereignty
The people hold the ultimate authority
A representative democracy lets the people
elect leaders to make decisions for them.
Orrin Hatch !o" !ennett and Chris
Cannon are our elected officials in Congress
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II. #imited $overnment
%ramers &anted to guard against tyranny
$overnment is limited to the po&er given
them in the Constitution.
The Constitution tells ho& leaders &ho
overstep their po&er can "e removed
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III. %ederalism
The division of po&er "et&een State and
'ational $overnments
Some po&ers are shared
The 'ational $overnment has the (supreme
po&er)
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I*. Separation of Po&ers
'o one holds (too much) po&er
#egislative "ranch makes the la&s
+,ecutive "ranch carries out the la&s#egislative "ranch interprets the la&s
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#egislative !ranch
Senate and House of -epresentatives
ake our la&s
Appropriate oney
-egulate Immigration
+sta"lish Post Offices and -oads
-egulate Interstate Commerce andTransportation
/eclare 0ar
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+,ecutive !ranch
The President of the United States
Chief +,ecutive
Chief of StateChief #egislator
Commander in Chief
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1udicial !ranch
Supreme Court and other %ederal Courts
Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed
"y the Constitution
Considers cases involving national la&s
/eclares la&s and acts (unconstitutional)
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*. Checks and !alances
Prevents the a"use of po&er in government
+ach "ranch can check each other "ranch
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+,ecutive Checks
Propose la&s to Congress
*eto la&s made "y Congress
'egotiate foreign treatiesAppoint federal 2udges
$rant pardons to federal offenders
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#egislative Checks
Override president3s veto
-atify treaties
Confirm e,ecutive appointments Impeach federal officers and 2udges
Create and dissolve lo&er federal courts
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1udicial Checks
/eclare e,ecutive acts unconstitutional
/eclare la&s unconstitutional
/eclare acts of Congress unconstitutionalThe Supreme Court holds the final check