American Government

Chapter 3

Section 1

Six Principles of the Constitution

• Popular Sovereignty

• Limited Government

• Separation of Powers

• Checks and Balances

• Judicial Review

• Federalism

Popular Sovereignty

• Populace is the ultimate source of authority

• Consent of the Governed

• Comes from John Locke

Limited Government

• Government must follow the laws of the nation.

• Nation of Laws vs. Nation of Men

• No Person is Above the Law

Separation of Powers

• Government is split into three branches

• Legislature – Makes Laws

• Judiciary – Interprets Laws

• Executive – Enforces Laws

Checks and Balances

• Each Branch holds some power over the Other Two

• Ensures no one branch Gaining Too Much Power

Executive

• Appoints Judges

• Approves or Vetoes Legislation

• Commander in Chief of Armed Forces

Legislature

• Confirms Executive Appointments

• Can Over-ride veto with Two-thirds majority vote

• Power of the Purse – Controls spending

Judiciary

• Interprets the Constitution

• Judicial Review

• Life terms once confirmed

Judicial Review

• Power to declare an Act of the President or the Congress Unconstitutional

• Usually exercised in landmark court cases

• Supreme Judicial body of the Nation

Federalism

• Two Levels of the Government

• National and Local Levels

• Extended down to Cities, etc.

• Some powers specific to each level, some shared