Six Principles of the Six Principles of the ConstitutionConstitution

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty

Basic principle of the American Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and and all governmental power, and government can exist only with government can exist only with the the consent of the governedconsent of the governed

Limited GovernmentLimited Government

Basic principle of the American Basic principle of the American government which states that government which states that government is restricted in what it government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take rights that government cannot take awayaway

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

Basic principle of the American Basic principle of the American system of government, that the system of government, that the executive, legislative, and judicial executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches independent and coequal branches of governmentof government

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

System of overlapping the powers of System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the branch to check the actions of the othersothers

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review

The powers of a court to determine The powers of a court to determine the constitutionality of a the constitutionality of a governmental actiongovernmental action

FederalismFederalism

A system of government in which a A system of government in which a written constitution divides power written constitution divides power between a central, or national, between a central, or national, government and several regional, or government and several regional, or state, governmentsstate, governments