Do Now: Although this famous quotation was written 100 years after the United States Constitution, the founding fathers knew the lesson well. Explain how the Founding Fathers incorporated this lesson into the Constitution.

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” —Lord John Dalberg-Acton, 1887

What role does the Constitution play in your daily life?

How would the United States be different if the Framers kept the Articles of Confederation?

Do Now

Respond to the following statement on the Constitution. Agree, disagree, or qualify.

“People like to hold it up as some kind of sacred document, but it's just a workable series of compromises by a bunch of reasonably well-educated white landowners after their previous draft had completely fallen apart a few years before.”

Principles of United States Government

• Popular Sovereignty—the people are the source of all governmental power…government exists with the peoples' consent. [Political philosopher?]

• Republicanism—system of limited, representative government

• Limited Government—government’s authority is restricted to specific powers; individua rights protected from the government.

• Federalism--national and state governments share power. • Separation of Powers—power divided among the legislative,

executive, and judicial branches. [Political philosopher?]• Checks and Balances—system; each branch of government

can check, or limit, the power of the other branches.• Individual Rights—rights of individuals protected

System/Process/Function/Algorithm/Laws/Government/Plot TypeCopyright Hagerty 2014

The Constitution will control factions through “republic” form of government.

• People form factions based on their “zeal” or “sentiment” for a subject.

• Free society will have factions…forever. Property: distinct interests, creditors, debtors, landowners, manufacturers• Principal task of modern government: regulate

these different issues. Republic form of government does this.

• America is physically big (another strength).