Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, has been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, which outline protections of individual liberty and justice and restrictions on government powers. The document begins with the words We the People and is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The six big ideas of the Constitution are: limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Checks and Balances | The power for one branch of government to block action by an equal branch of government |
| Federalism | A system of constitutional government in which power is divided into layers with several states on one level and a federal government on another with balanced authority |
| Limited Government | The government has only the powers granted to it in the Constitution, and it can only conduct actions permitted by the Constitution |
| Popular Sovereignty | The Preamble stresses that this government is made by the people and exists to represent, protect, and serve them |
| Separation of Powers | The Constitution keeps the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) separate, with each branch being described in a separate Article |
| Republicanism | A system of government based on the concept of popular sovereignty and put into practice by the constitutional institutions and processes of representative government |
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What You'll Learn
- Federalism: a system of government with divided power between states and federal government
- Limited government: restricted to powers granted in the Constitution
- Popular sovereignty: the government is made by and serves the people
- Republicanism: a system of government based on popular sovereignty
- Separation of powers: the three branches of government are separate and equal
Federalism: a system of government with divided power between states and federal government
The United States Constitution, which came into operation in 1789, is composed of the Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights, which places restrictions on the powers of the government within US states and protects individual liberty and justice.
One of the six big ideas of the Constitution is federalism, a system of constitutional government where power is divided between the states and the federal government. In this system, the states and the federal government each have their own distinct areas of authority, with the federal government acting as an overarching authority.
Federalism in the US Constitution recognises that some powers are exclusive to the federal government, such as those relating to foreign policy and national defence. At the same time, it also grants certain powers exclusively to the states, including those related to public health and education.
The system of federalism in the US is designed to strike a balance between national unity and state autonomy. It allows for a division of powers and a system of checks and balances, where the federal government and the states act as mutual counterweights to prevent the concentration of power.
The specific powers granted to each level of government, and the relationship between them, have evolved over time through constitutional amendments and Supreme Court decisions. Amendments to the Constitution are proposed by Congress and ratified by the states, with each state having the power to approve or reject proposed changes.
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Limited government: restricted to powers granted in the Constitution
The Constitution of the United States, which came into force in 1789, has been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights, which outlines protections of individual liberty and justice and places restrictions on the government's powers within US states.
One of the six big ideas of the Constitution is limited government, which means that the government's powers are restricted to those granted in the Constitution, and it can only take actions permitted by the Constitution. This is further reinforced by the separation of powers, where the Constitution keeps the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) separate and describes their powers and responsibilities in separate Articles. Each branch is the equal of the others, and this separation ensures that no one branch has too much power.
The amendment process was designed to balance pliancy and rigidity, guarding against both extreme facility that would allow frequent changes to the Constitution, and extreme difficulty that might perpetuate faults in the document. Amendments can be proposed by Congress and must be ratified by a unanimous vote of all state legislatures. This process ensures that any changes to the Constitution go through a thorough review and are carefully considered before being implemented.
The Constitution also recognises popular sovereignty, which is reflected in the Preamble's opening phrase, "We the People". This stresses that the government is created by the people and exists to represent, protect, and serve them. Overall, the principle of limited government in the Constitution ensures that the government's powers are restricted and that the ultimate authority rests with the people.
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Popular sovereignty: the government is made by and serves the people
The United States Constitution is a document that outlines the country's system of government and the rights of its citizens. It has been amended several times since its implementation in 1789, but its core principles, known as the "Six Big Ideas," remain essential to understanding the American political system. One of these principles is popular sovereignty, which holds that the government is created by the people and exists to serve them.
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the government's power and authority ultimately reside with the people. This idea is enshrined in the Constitution's Preamble, which begins with the words “We the People,” indicating that the government is derived from the consent and will of the governed. This concept is at the core of the American democratic system, where citizens have the right to choose their leaders and hold them accountable for their actions.
The Founding Fathers, who drafted and ratified the Constitution, believed that the government should be accountable to the people and act in their best interests. This belief was influenced by the Enlightenment philosophy of the time, which emphasized individual rights and the importance of consent in governing. By establishing popular sovereignty as a fundamental principle, the Founding Fathers ensured that the government would be answerable to the citizens it represented.
The principle of popular sovereignty has significant implications for the structure and function of the American government. It justifies the system of representative democracy, where citizens elect officials to make and carry out laws on their behalf. It also underlies the concept of federalism, where power is divided between the states and the federal government to ensure that decisions are made at the appropriate level and that the rights of states and citizens are protected.
Popular sovereignty also shapes the relationship between the different branches of government. The Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances, where each branch (executive, legislative, and judicial) has specific powers and responsibilities, and can limit the actions of the others. This separation of powers prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful and ensures that the government remains responsive to the people's needs and preferences.
In conclusion, popular sovereignty is a fundamental principle of the United States Constitution, recognizing that the government is created by and for the people. This idea has shaped the American political system, from the establishment of representative democracy and federalism to the system of checks and balances between branches of government. By upholding popular sovereignty, the Constitution ensures that the government remains accountable to and serves the interests of its citizens.
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Republicanism: a system of government based on popular sovereignty
The US Constitution, which came into operation in 1789, is a document that outlines the country's system of government and the powers it holds. It is composed of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. The first three words, "We the People," emphasise the concept of popular sovereignty, which is a key principle of republicanism.
Republicanism is one of the six "Big Ideas" of the US Constitution, along with limited government, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty. It refers to a system of government based on popular sovereignty, where power is derived from the people and exercised by elected representatives. The US Constitution establishes a republican form of government, rejecting the autocratic monarchies prevalent in Europe at the time of its drafting.
Popular sovereignty, as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution, signifies that the government is created by the people and exists to represent, protect, and serve their interests. This principle is further reinforced by the First Amendment, which guarantees various individual liberties and restricts government powers. The Constitution's establishment of three separate branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—also reflects the principle of popular sovereignty by ensuring that no single branch holds excessive power.
The US Constitution's commitment to republicanism and popular sovereignty has been influential in shaping the country's political system. It has resulted in a federal structure with divided powers, where the government's authority is derived from the consent of the governed. This system of checks and balances aims to prevent the concentration of power in any one branch or entity, thus safeguarding the rights and liberties of the people.
In summary, republicanism in the context of the US Constitution refers to a system of government grounded in popular sovereignty. This means that the ultimate authority rests with the people, who delegate power to elected representatives and institutions. The Constitution's framework of separated powers and guaranteed civil liberties further strengthens the principle of popular sovereignty by holding the government accountable to the people it serves.
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Separation of powers: the three branches of government are separate and equal
The US Constitution's system of government is based on the separation of powers, a model that divides the government into three independent branches: the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. This system, also known as the Checks and Balances system, ensures that no single branch holds more power than another, thereby protecting individual liberty and preventing tyranny.
The Legislative Power of the Federal Government is vested in Congress, which consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress is responsible for creating laws and has the power to impeach and convict the President for high crimes, such as treason or bribery.
The Executive Power is vested in the President, who has the authority to veto laws passed by Congress. The President's power is checked by Congress, which can override a Presidential veto with a 2/3 vote in both houses.
The Judicial Power is vested in the Supreme Court and any lower courts created by Congress. The Supreme Court may declare laws unconstitutional and has the authority to determine whether one branch has infringed upon the powers of another.
The separation of powers doctrine is not explicitly mentioned in the text of the Constitution but is derived from its structure and the Framers' intention to prevent the concentration of governmental powers in a single entity, which they believed would lead to arbitrary and oppressive rule. The Framers' experience with the British monarchy informed their belief in the need for separate and independent branches of government, each exercising one of the three basic functions: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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