Government

Principles Underlying the Constitution

Chapter 3

Section 4

Key Terms

• Popular Sovereignty: Power lies with the people

• Rule of law: Law applies to everyone, even those who govern

• Separation of powers: Split of authority among the three branches of government

• Checks and balances: System in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others

• Expressed powers: Powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution

• Reserved powers: Powers that the constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the state

• Concurrent powers: Powers shared by the state and federal governments

Popular Sovereignty

• Framers of the const. had vision on how govt. should run:– Representative of the people– Limited in scope– Power divided among

different levelsTo achieve this

• Framers embraced 5 principles1. Popular sovereignty2. Rule of law3. Separation of powers4. Checks and balances5. federalism

Popular Sovereignty

• Declar. Of Indep.:– Strong support of P.S.– “govt. should draw their

power from the consent of the governed.”

• Constitution:– Strong support of P.S.– “We the people….”

• Rights for citizens to vote– Exercise in power

• Elected officials are always accountable to the people

Rule of Law

• Framers:– Govt. should be strong, but not too strong

• Const. limits the power of federal and state govt.

• No one may break the law or escape its reach

Separation of Powers

• Govt. divided into 3 branches– Protect against power

abuse

– No one person can rule

• Best way to protect peoples liberty

Checks and Balances

• Keeps branches from becoming too powerful

• Each branch is able to check/restrain the power of the others

Examples• President can veto laws

proposed by congress• Congress can block

presidential appointments and treaties

Federalism

• Power shared by national govt. and states

• Dividing power

• The Supremacy of the Const.

Dividing Power

• Article I:

– Federal govt. may:

• Make money

• Make treaties with other nations

– No states may do those things

• Expressed powers

• Reserved powers

– Regulate trade within state borders

– Establishing schools

– Rules for marriage and divorce

Concurrent Powers

• Authority of states and national govt. overlaps– Power to collect taxes

– Borrow money

– Set up courts and prisons

The Supremacy of the Const.

• Article VI:– Const. And other laws and

treaties created by the govt. shall be supreme law of the land

• Const. Supreme law– Govt. cannot violate it

– States cannot go against Const. Or federal law

Homework

• Chapter 3 Section 4 Questions 1-6

• Worksheets #37-40