THE UNITED STATES

CONSTITUTION
 THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

 There are 6 unique concepts within the constitution that has

made it arguably the most successful governing document of
all time.
 1) Popular Sovereignty
 2) Limited Government
 3) Checks and Balances
 4) Separation of Powers
 5) Judicial Review
 6) Federalism
 POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

Definition: Rule by the people

 POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY

Examples:
1) Kansas-Nebraska Act
2) People voting on an issue
A) Same-sex marriage
B) Legalization of marijuana
C) Approving gambling/casinos
3) “We the people”
 LIMITED GOVERNMENT

Definition: A system of government where the power is not

absolute but limited
 LIMITED GOVERNMENT

Examples:
1) Minority Rights
2) Constitution
3) Consent of the Governed
4) Separation of Powers
5) Rule of Law
6) President Fujimori
 CHECKS AND BALANCES

Definition: a system in which the different parts of an

organization (such as a government) have powers that affect
and control the other parts so that no part can become too
powerful
 CHECKS AND BALANCES

Examples:
1) Federalist 51
 CHECKS AND BALANCES
Legislative Branch

 Checks on the Executive

o Impeachment power (House)
o Trial of impeachments (Senate)
o Selection of the President (House) and Vice President (Senate) in the case of no majority of
electoral votes
o May override Presidential vetoes
o Senate approves departmental appointments
o Senate approves treaties and ambassadors
o Approval of replacement Vice President
o Power to declare war
o Power to enact taxes and allocate funds
o President must, from time-to-time, deliver a State of the Union address
 Checks on the Judiciary
o Senate approves federal judges
o Impeachment power (House)
o Trial of impeachments (Senate)
o Power to initiate constitutional amendments
o Power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court
o Power to set jurisdiction of courts
o Power to alter the size of the Supreme Court
 Checks on the Legislature - because it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has a degree of self-checking.
o Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress
o House must originate revenue bills
o Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house
o All journals are to be published
 CHECKS AND BALANCES

Executive Branch

 Checks on the Legislature

o Veto power
o Vice President is President of the Senate
o Commander in chief of the military
o Emergency calling into session of one or both houses of Congress
o May force adjournment when both houses cannot agree on adjournment
o Compensation cannot be diminished
 Checks on the Judiciary
o Power to appoint judges
o Pardon power
 Checks on the Executive
o Vice President and Cabinet can vote that the President is unable to discharge his duties
 CHECKS AND BALANCES
Judicial Branch

 Checks on the Legislature

o Judicial review
o Seats are held on good behavior
o Compensation cannot be diminished
 Checks on the Executive
o Judicial review
o Chief Justice sits as President of the Senate during presidential impeachment
 SEPARATION OF POWERS

Definition: Dividing different powers among three branches of

government
 Prevents one branch from gaining too much power
 Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches have their own
unique powers
 SEPARATION OF POWERS

Examples:
SEPARATION OF POWERS
 JUDICIAL REVIEW

Definition: The power of the Supreme Court to determine if laws

are unconstitutional.
 JUDICIAL REVIEW

Example: John Marshall and the decision of Marbury v Madison

 FEDERALISM

Definition: The division of state and federal governments.

 FEDERALISM

Example:
1) Taxes
2) Education
3) Enumerated vs Reserved Powers
4) States determining the legality of certain issues:
A) Abortion limits
B) Capital Punishment
C) Same Sex Marriage
D) Medicinal Marijuana
E) Physician Assisted Suicide.