Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution is a document that establishes the federal government's structure and branches. It is a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. The Six Big Ideas are the foundation of the nation and are found within the text of the Constitution. These ideas are: limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty. Students are often taught about these ideas through the study of the Constitution, primary sources, and political cartoons. They learn about the major principles of government and how these ideas are reflected in today's political issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Limited Government | The government has only the powers granted to it in the Constitution, and it can only conduct actions permitted by the Constitution. |
| Republicanism | --- |
| Checks and Balances | The Constitutionally granted 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 an overarching federal government on another with authority balanced between the state and federal governments. |
| Separation of Powers | Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law. |
| Popular Sovereignty | A belief that ultimate power resides in the people. |
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Limited Government
One of the six big ideas found in the US Constitution is limited government. This principle is a uniquely American contribution to the science of political governance. The US Constitution establishes a strong and independent federal government, but it does so through a scheme of enumerated powers. The federal government only possesses those powers specifically granted to it by the Constitution. The Constitution outlines the powers of the government, and the government can only conduct actions permitted by the Constitution.
The notion of limited government arose from the framers' opposition to the patterns of statism, absolutism, and totalitarianism that existed in the eighteenth-century world. The framers held a cautious and skeptical view toward concentrations of government power. They were concerned about the potential for a powerful government to deprive people of their liberty, as the British government had done to American colonists.
To prevent centralized power, the framers designed a system of checks and balances, creating three separate branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each branch can check and restrain the others, preventing abuses of power. This system reflects the framers' belief that a limited government is a greater protection for liberty than the freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights. While individual rights protect against specific acts of government abuse, structural provisions like limited government safeguard against systemic and continuing abuses of power.
The principle of limited government was widely supported during the first century and a half of the nation's existence. However, in the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal agenda expanded the scope and authority of the federal government, challenging the idea of limited government.
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Republicanism
The US Constitution mentions the term "republic" once in section four of Article Four, which states: "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."
The term "Republican Form of Government" has been interpreted in various ways by political scientists, historians, and the Supreme Court. It has been suggested that the core values of republicanism include liberty, inalienable individual rights, recognition of the sovereignty of the people as the source of all authority in law, rejection of monarchy and aristocracy, and the vilification of corruption. These values are influenced by Ancient Greco-Roman, Renaissance, and English models and ideas.
The concept of republicanism in the US Constitution is also associated with the idea of popular sovereignty, where the people are the source of all political power. This is reflected in the ability of the people to choose their representatives and pass their laws through legislative power.
The Founding Fathers embraced the concept of republicanism, and it played a significant role in shaping the intellectual climate during the Revolutionary War. Historians like Thomas Kidd and Gordon Wood have highlighted the link between religion and republicanism during this period, with religious traditionalists embracing the concept of "republican virtue."
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Checks and Balances
Firstly, checks and balances limit the power of the majority to act without regard to the views or interests of others. They ensure that the perspectives of those who are in the minority on a given issue are represented. For example, opposition voices are guaranteed to be heard in the process of law-making.
Secondly, at a more practical level, they ensure that policy is thoroughly tested and behaviour is supervised. This helps to improve the quality of decision-making and prevent behaviour that might threaten the integrity or reputation of the political system.
However, there can be drawbacks to checks and balances. Because they make unilateral action more difficult and allow a greater range of actors to participate in governing, strong checks and balances can increase the risk of gridlock. They can also make it easier for vested interests to protect themselves at others' expense, by creating multiple opportunities to exercise a veto over proposed changes.
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Federalism
In the United States, federalism is the constitutional division of power between state governments and the federal government. The US Constitution, drafted in 1787, established the government of the United States and outlined the powers of the federal government. The Framers sought to preserve liberty by diffusing power, ensuring that no one government had complete jurisdiction over all the concerns of public life.
The progression of federalism in the US has included dual, cooperative, and New Federalism. Since the country's founding, and particularly after the American Civil War, power shifted from the states towards the national government. The Anti-Federalist critique of the Constitution centred on the absence of a bill of rights, which Federalists promised to provide. Madison proposed amendments that gave more rights to individuals than to states, which led to Anti-Federalist criticisms of diversion. Eventually, ten of the twelve proposed articles of amendment became the United States Bill of Rights.
While the US Constitution does not clearly delineate the boundaries between federal and state powers, the Supreme Court has invoked constitutional provisions to determine when Congress has exceeded its powers and infringed upon state sovereignty. Judges and scholars disagree on how the basic principles of federalism should be realised, and the role of the judiciary in enforcing the interests of the states against the federal government remains a point of controversy.
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Separation of Powers
The US Constitution establishes three separate but equal branches of government: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. Each branch has its own distinct powers and responsibilities, and they work together to balance power and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This system is known as the separation of powers and is a fundamental principle of the US Constitution.
The legislative branch is responsible for making laws. It consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives, with each state having two senators and a number of representatives based on its population. The legislative branch also has the power to vest legislative power in Congress, which is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The executive branch enforces the laws made by the legislative branch. The executive power is vested in the President, who becomes the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy and has the power to make treaties and appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President also has the power to ensure the faithful execution of the laws, and officers subordinate to the President may perform such duties.
The judicial branch interprets the laws and ensures that they are applied fairly and consistently. The judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court and any lower courts created by Congress. The judicial branch also has the authority to review the actions of the other two branches and determine if they are constitutional.
The separation of powers is designed to protect individual liberty and prevent arbitrary and oppressive government action. The framers of the Constitution believed that concentrating governmental powers in a single entity would subject the nation's people to tyranny. Instead, they favoured an approach that maintains some independence for each branch while promoting interdependence and the sharing of power. This system of checks and balances helps to ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful and that the government functions effectively.
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