United States Constitution: THE SIX BASIC PRINCIPLES
The classic textbook Magruder’s American Government outlines the six basic principles of the Constitution. Below is a description of these principles:
1: Popular Sovereignty
The Preamble to the Constitution begins with the bold phrase, “We the people …” These words announce that in the United States, the people are sovereign. The government receives its power from the people and can govern only with their consent.
2: Limited Government
Because the people are the ultimate source of all government power, the government has only as much authority as the people give it. Government’s power is thus limited. Much of the Constitution, in fact, consists of specific limitations on government power.
3: Separation of Powers
Government power is not only limited, but also divided. The Constitution assigns certain powers to each of the three branches: the legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (federal courts). This separation of government’s powers was intended to prevent the misuse of power.
4: Checks and Balances
The system of checks and balances gives each of the three branches of government the ability to restrain the other two. Such a system makes government less efficient but also less likely to trample on the rights of citizens.
5: Judicial Review
Who decides whether an act of government violates the Constitution? Federal courts have the power to review acts of the federal government and to cancel any acts that are unconstitutional, or violate a provision in the Constitution.
6: Federalism
A federal system of government is one in which power is divided between a central government and smaller governments. This sharing of powers is intended to ensure that the central government is powerful enough to be effective, yet not so powerful as to threaten states or individuals.
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