American Government Chapter 3 Section 1. Six Principles of the Constitution Popular Sovereignty...
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Transcript of American Government Chapter 3 Section 1. Six Principles of the Constitution Popular Sovereignty...
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