CONTENT STATEMENT
As the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution incorporates basic principles that help define the government of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers, and relationship with the governed.
Content elaboration
Basic principles which help define the government of the United States include:
- popular sovereignty;
- limited government;
- federalism;
- separation of powers; and
- checks and balances.
Popular sovereignty is the principle that governmental authority is derived from the people. Under this principle, the government governs with the consent of the governed.
The principle of limited government holds that a government can only exercise the powers granted to it. Government must be conducted according to the rule of law.
Federalism is a system in which power is divided between a national and state governments. Under the U.S. Constitution, this principle is reflected in the division of powers between the national government and the states.
The principle of separation of powers requires a distribution of governmental powers among independent branches. Each of the branches has a specific field of authority and unique set of responsibilities within the operation of the government.
Checks and balances constitute a system for controlling government power. Under this principle, each branch of government possesses the ability to restrain certain actions of the other branches.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Explain in context one of the basic principles which help define the government of the United States.