THE CONSTITUTION

1
THE CONSTITUTION

• Six Key Constitutional Principles

2
Concept 1 Popular Sovereignty

• In the United States, all political power resides
  in the people. They are the only source for any
  and all governmental power.
• Government can govern only with the consent of
  the governed.

3
Concept 2 Separation of Powers

• A way of dividing power among three branches of
  government in which members of the House of
  Representatives, the Senate, the president, and
  the federal courts are selected by and
  responsible to different constituencies.

4
Concept 3 Checks and Balances

• A government structure that gives each of the
  three branches of government some degree of
  oversight and control over the actions of the
  others

5
Concept 4 Federalism

• System of government in which power is divided
  between the national government and the state
  governments and in which independent states are
  bound together under one national government

6
Concept 5 Limited Government

• National Government
• May not violate the Bill of Rights
• May not impose export taxes among states
• May not use money from the Treasury without the
  passage and approval of an appropriations bill
• May not change state boundaries

• A type of government in which its functions and
  powers are written, limited, and restricted by
  law to protect the citizenry.

• State Government
• May not enter into treaties with other countries
• May not print money
• May not tax imports or exports
• May not Impair obligations of contracts
• May not suspend a person's rights without due
  process

7
Concept 6 Judicial Review

• The power of the court to determine the
  constitutionality of a governmental action.
• The Supreme Court established this power in
  Marbury v. Madison.

8
Cartoon 1Which constitutional principle is
represented in this cartoon? What is the message
the cartoonist is trying to get across? What
symbols does the cartoonist use?
9
Cartoon 2Which constitutional principle is
represented in this cartoon? What is the message
the cartoonist is trying to get across? What
symbols does the cartoonist use?
10
Cartoon 3Which constitutional principle is
represented in this cartoon? What is the message
the cartoonist is trying to get across? What
symbols does the cartoonist use?
11
Cartoon 4Which constitutional principle is
represented in this cartoon? What is the message
the cartoonist is trying to get across? What
symbols does the cartoonist use?