Post on 19-Jan-2016
Popular SovereigntyPeople give government the
power to rule
Limited GovernmentGovernment is NOT all powerful;
can only do what people giveit power to do
Separation of PowersThree branches – executive,
legislative, judicial…all separate,but equal in powers
Checks and BalancesEach branch can check the othertwo branches to avoid too much
power in one branch
Judicial ReviewCourts can declare something
unconstitutional if laws don’t meetthe intent of the Constitution
FederalismNational government has power, butalso state governments have power
as well
The United States Constitution is over two hundred years old. It is the longest written constitution in the world. It has lasted as the
country has changed dramatically. The reason why…
Formal Amendments – written additions and/or changes to the Constitution
Proposed by 2/3 vote in eachHouse of Congress and ratified by
3/4 of state legislatures
Proposed by Congress and thenratified in a special convention
called for in 3/4 of the states
Proposed by a national conventioncalled by Congress at the request
of 2/3 of the state legislatures
Proposed by a national conventionand ratified by conventions in
3/4 of the states
Informal Amendments to the Constitution are…
Changes to the Constitution that have not actually changed what is written in the Constitution
The Laws Themselves…Thousands have been passed
since the Constitution was written
The Power of the PresidentPresidents today are much
more powerful thanthey were 200 years ago
Court DecisionsThe Supreme Court has had thousands of decisions sincethe Constitution was written
CustomsThroughout history, times have
changed how Americans dothings