Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the United States is underpinned by three interrelated but distinct concepts that define American democracy. The first principle of the Constitution is the separation of power among the three branches of government, reflecting the Framers' view that the Federal Government's power should be limited and diffused. The Constitution begins with the words 'We the People', announcing the purposes and goals of the document, and outlining the structures and protections of individual rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Separation of power | Three branches of government |
| Limited government | Federal government's power should be limited |
| Self-government | The consent of the governed |
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What You'll Learn
Separation of power among the three branches of government
The first principle of the Constitution is the separation, or division, of power among the three branches of government. This reflects the Framers' view that the Federal Government's power should be limited and diffused among the three branches.
The Constitution of the United States embraces three interrelated but distinct concepts that define American democracy. The first of these is the separation of powers, which is designed to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. The three branches of government are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Each branch has its own unique role and responsibilities, and they are designed to work together to create a system of checks and balances.
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. This branch includes Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The executive branch is responsible for carrying out the laws. This branch includes the President, Vice President, and the various federal agencies and departments. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws and ensuring that they are applied fairly and consistently. This branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
By dividing the powers of the government among these three branches, the Constitution helps to ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful and that the rights and liberties of the people are protected. This system of checks and balances is a key feature of the American democratic system and is designed to prevent tyranny and promote stability.
The Constitution builds on the ideas of liberty, equality, limited government, and self-government outlined in the Declaration of Independence. It begins with the words "We the People", emphasising the purpose and goals of the Constitution, and the structures and protections of individual rights that its authors designed to implement those objectives.
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Limited government
The first principle of the Constitution is the separation or division of power among the three branches of government. This reflects the Framers' view that the Federal Government's power should be limited and diffused among the three branches. The Constitution builds on the ideas of self-government and "the consent of the governed" in the Declaration of Independence. It begins with "We the People", announcing the purposes and goals of the Constitution, before listing the structures and protections of individual rights. The Founders wrote the Constitution to ensure the government remained bound to its principles and promises, but they recognised that for it to be a lasting document, it would need to change.
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Self-government
The first principle of the Constitution is the separation of power among the three branches of government. This reflects the Framers' view that the Federal Government's power should be limited and diffused. The Constitution is built on the idea of self-government, as outlined in the Declaration of Independence, and begins with the words 'We the People', announcing the purposes and goals of the Constitution. The Framers wanted to ensure that the government remained bound to its principles and promises, and that the document would be lasting. The preamble to the Constitution sets out its intentions and purpose, and the first of five objectives outlined is to 'establish Justice'.
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Individual rights
The first principle of the Constitution is the separation of power among the three branches of government. This reflects the Framers' view that the Federal Government's power should be limited and diffused among the three branches. The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of the Framers and the purpose of the document. It is not the law, but it does introduce the highest law of the land. The preamble does not define government powers or individual rights, but it does outline the basic principles of the Constitution.
The Constitution of the United States broadly embraces three interrelated but distinct concepts that define American democracy: liberty, equality, and limited government. The Constitution begins with "We the People", announcing the purposes and goals of the document, before listing the structures and protections of individual rights that its authors designed to implement those objectives. The Founders wrote the Constitution to ensure the government remained bound to its principles and promises, but they recognised that for it to be a lasting document, it would need to change.
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Federal activity
The Constitution's first principle is the separation of power among the three branches of government. This reflects the Framers' view that the Federal Government's power should be limited and diffused among the three branches. The preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of the Framers and the purpose of the document. It is not the law, but it does outline the basic principles that the law will follow. The Framers agreed on the following basic principles:
> We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Constitution builds on the ideas of self-government and 'the consent of the governed' in the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration's ideas of liberty, equality, limited government and self-government later served as important features of the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The first principle of the constitution is the separation of power among the three branches of government.
The three branches of government are the executive, the legislative and the judiciary.
The separation of power is important because it limits the power of the Federal Government and ensures that no one branch has too much control.
The separation of power is achieved through the constitution, which outlines the roles and responsibilities of each branch of government.
