The Seven The Seven Principles of Principles of GovernmentGovernment

The Constitution is built upon The Constitution is built upon seven basic principles of seven basic principles of

government. government. The Framers of the Constitution The Framers of the Constitution used these principles to create used these principles to create the “supreme law” of our land.the “supreme law” of our land.

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Who were the framers?Who were the framers?

The framers were the builders of our Constitution

These men debated for the interests of their states, the people, and the nation..

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Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty Definiton:Definiton:

What does What does popularpopular refer to?refer to?

Population, or Population, or peoplepeople..A A sovereignsovereign king does king does

what?what?

RuleRuleSo together, Popular So together, Popular

Sovereignty means?Sovereignty means?

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People RulePeople Rule

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Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty (people rule)(people rule)

The Preamble to the Constitution begins The Preamble to the Constitution begins with this bold phrase, with this bold phrase,

““We the People...”We the People...” These These words announce that in the United words announce that in the United States, the people establish States, the people establish government and give it its power. government and give it its power.

The people are sovereign. Since the The people are sovereign. Since the government receives it power from government receives it power from the people, it can govern only with the people, it can govern only with their consent. their consent.

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Example: So how do we Example: So how do we rule?rule?

Voting!The people’s power comes in the form of democracy.

We have the right to push into a touch screen our choices for our government!

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Limited Government Limited Government

Because the Because the people are the people are the source of source of government government power, the power, the government has government has only as much only as much authority as the authority as the people give it. people give it.

People

Government

Authority

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More…Limited Gov’t.More…Limited Gov’t.

Much of Much of the the ConstitutioConstitution, in fact, n, in fact, consists of consists of specific specific limitation limitation on on governmengovernment power.t power.

Our rights and freedoms protect us from

Government rule.

Bill of Rights

Freedom of Assembly

Freedom of Petition

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Press

Freedom of Religion

No Cruel/Unusual Punishment

Counsel, Fair TrialPrivacy

Bill of Rights(Amendments 1-10)

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More…Limited More…Limited Government Government

Limited Limited government government means that means that neither the neither the government nor government nor any government any government official is “above official is “above the law” and the law” and can overstep can overstep these these constitutional constitutional bounds.bounds.

GW

We the People

No one is Above

the Law, or Constitution

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Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

GovernmGovernment ent power is power is not only not only limited: limited: it is also it is also divided. divided.

Government Power

Limited Power

Limited Power

Limited Power

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Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

The Constitution The Constitution assigns specific assigns specific powers to each of powers to each of the three the three branches: branches: Legislative Legislative (Congress), (Congress), Executive Executive (President) and (President) and Judicial (Supreme Judicial (Supreme Court). Court).

(Congress)(Congress)

((President)President)

((Supreme Court)Supreme Court)

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Checks and BalancesChecks and BalancesThe system of check and balances The system of check and balances

extends the restrictions extends the restrictions established by the separation of established by the separation of

powers. powers.

Each branch of Each branch of government has the government has the built-in authority and built-in authority and responsibility to responsibility to restrain the power of restrain the power of the other two the other two branches. This branches. This system makes system makes government less government less efficient, but also efficient, but also prevents tyranny by prevents tyranny by one branch. (p58)one branch. (p58)

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Judicial ReviewJudicial Review

Who decides whether an Who decides whether an act of government act of government oversteps the limits oversteps the limits placed on it by the placed on it by the Constitution? Constitution?

Historically, the judges in Historically, the judges in the federal courts have the federal courts have made the decisions. made the decisions. The principle of The principle of judicial review was judicial review was established early in the established early in the history of the nation. history of the nation.

Before Marbury v. Madison.(1803), all big profile cases were to be heard in Congressional Federal Courts. (Judiciary Act of 1789)

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Marbury v MadisonMarbury v Madison In 1800 Thomas Jefferson wins the In 1800 Thomas Jefferson wins the

presidency. Defeats John Adams.presidency. Defeats John Adams. Before Jefferson actually begins his term, Before Jefferson actually begins his term,

(March 4, 1801),William Marbury wants (March 4, 1801),William Marbury wants the position of Justice of the Peace in the position of Justice of the Peace in Washington DCWashington DC

He was approved by the Senate, and He was approved by the Senate, and (soon-to-be-leaving office), John Adams (soon-to-be-leaving office), John Adams signs the appointment to JP.signs the appointment to JP.

Jefferson tells Secretary of State James Jefferson tells Secretary of State James Madison, “No way, new sheriff in town. Madison, “No way, new sheriff in town. Window is closed.” Window is closed.”

Marbury sues Madison for not delivering Marbury sues Madison for not delivering his appointment to office. his appointment to office.

Where do two Where do two high rankinghigh ranking

officials face -off officials face -off in court?in court?

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Judicial Review DeclaredJudicial Review Declared

Chief Justice John Marshall declares the Chief Justice John Marshall declares the Supreme Court’sSupreme Court’s power to review government acts, power to review government acts,

including cases with government officials, states, treaties.. including cases with government officials, states, treaties.. Judicial Review is born.Judicial Review is born.

It means that federal courts have the power to reviewIt means that federal courts have the power to review government acts and to nullify,government acts and to nullify,

or cancel, any that are unconstitutional,or cancel, any that are unconstitutional, or violate the provision of the Constitution.or violate the provision of the Constitution.

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FederalismFederalism A federal system A federal system

divides power between divides power between a central government a central government and smaller, local and smaller, local governments. governments.

This sharing of power is This sharing of power is intended to ensure that intended to ensure that the central government the central government is powerful enough to is powerful enough to be effective, yet not so be effective, yet not so powerful as to threaten powerful as to threaten States or citizens. States or citizens.

It also allows individual It also allows individual States to deal with local States to deal with local problems at the local problems at the local level—so long as their level—so long as their actions are actions are constitutional.constitutional.

Federal Government

State and Local Governments

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Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

***Not listed in your text******Not listed in your text***In outlining our In outlining our

government government “ “ of the people and by of the people and by

the people,” the the people,” the Constitution connects Constitution connects the citizenry of the the citizenry of the United States to our United States to our government positions government positions by way of elections. by way of elections.

This election process This election process confirms the principle confirms the principle of popular sovereignty of popular sovereignty by allowing the people by allowing the people of America to choose of America to choose their leaders. their leaders.

A Pictorial ReviewA Pictorial Review

Observe the Observe the images that images that follow, then follow, then make a guess as make a guess as to which basic to which basic principle they principle they depict.depict.

Example: People Example: People rule…rule…

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