Constitutional Principle



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US Government and Economics

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|Constitutional Principle |Explanation |

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|Popular Sovereignty |Ultimate power and final authority rests with “we the people” or all citizens. |

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| |Power is divided between the central (national or federal) government and the state |

|Federalism |governments. Some powers are concurrent and thus held by both levels of government (e.g. |

| |the power to tax) and some are exclusive (only federal government can declare war) |

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|Separation of Powers |Power within the national government is divided among three separate branches. Each branch |

| |has its own primary function: Legislative (write the laws); Executive (enforce the laws and |

| |protect nation) and Judicial (settle disputes) |

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|Checks and Balances |Each branch of the national government has certain controls (checks) over the other two |

| |branches (e.g. President oversees Congressional laws and can either approve or veto them) |

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| |Government’s power is limited by the rule of law which includes the Constitution and the |

|Limited Government |laws which are passed in pursuance of that Constitution. This means the government is not |

| |all-powerful; some actions are allowed while others are prohibited. (e.g. 1st amendment) |

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|Judicial Review |Power of courts to say that laws and actions of local, state or national governments are |

| |invalid because they conflict with the principles of the Constitution. Not officially |

| |established until 1803 with Marbury v. Madison. |

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