Popular Sovereignty

● Started by the framers as a

new form of government
● The people have a say in
who they want in the
government and who
shouldn’t be
● The people elect public
officials for frequent elections
● Govern. draws power from
the people
Limited Government
● Govern. may only do what the
people give them power to do
● The people are the only source
of govern. authority
● Govern. is conducted based on
the Constitutional principles
● Rule of Law (govern. and
officers are never above the
law)
● Based on freedom of
expression
Separation of Powers
● Legislative branch can’t
exercise the executive or
judicial powers
● Executive branch can’t exercise
judicial or legislative powers
● Judicial branch can’t exercise
legislative or executive powers
Checks and Balances
● Each branch of government have its
own set of restraints created by the
other branches
Examples:
● Congress can make laws, but the
president can say no or veto the law
● Congress can override a veto with two
thirds of the votes in each house
● Congress can refuse to make funds
that a president wants to hand out
● Senate can refuse to sign a treaty or
appointment made by president
● President is commander of military but
congress provides the military troops
Judicial Review
● Gives the court power to decide a
government action
● Declares what is unconstitutional,
illegal, null and void
● Independent judges are an
essential safeguard to protect the
people
Federalism
● The division of power between the
national and state governments
● Powers held by govern. are distributed
between the national and state
governments