Basic Constitutional Principles

Basic Constitutional Principles• 1789-Present Our Plan of Government• Limits power by:• Creating 3 Separate branches, each w/job• Each branch “checks” the other 2 so no branch

gets too powerful• Created a Federal System in which-(Federalism)• National Government has certain powers-Declare

War-Coin $$$-Delegated Powers• State Governments have certain powers-Schools

and Licenses-Reserved Powers• Both Levels share powers-Tax-Concurrent Powers

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Can be Amended/Changed

• 27 Total First 10 Bill of Rights-1791

• 2/3 of Congress + ¾ of States must agree to amendment.

• Republic/Representative Government

• National Government is Supreme to State Governments

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Separation of Powers: Constitution set up a gov’t divided into 3 branch

• With 3 branches one person or group would be prevented from becoming too powerful

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Power to make laws• Must approve treaties

and presidential appointments

• Decides how much money will be used and collected

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Enforces the law• Makes treaties• Carries out foreign

policy• Suggests needed

laws• Runs executive depts• Suggests budgets• Appoints judges and

Cabinet members

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Interprets the law• Decides meanings of

the law• Determines if laws

are constitutional• Determines if actions

of the President are constitutional

• Presides over Impeachment trial

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Checks and Balances– Each branch will “check” the others and make

sure that power is “balanced” between the 3

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Congress:• Enacts taxes, authorizes borrowing, and sets the budget • Has sole power to declare war • May start investigations, especially against the executive

branch • The Senate considers presidential appointments of

judges and executive department heads • The Senate ratifies treaties • The House of Representatives may impeach, and the

Senate may remove, executive and judicial officers

Basic Constitutional Principles

• President

• May veto laws

• Executive orders

• Appoints judges and executive department heads

• Has power to grant pardons to convicted persons, except in cases of impeachment

Basic Constitutional Principles

• Supreme Court

• Determines which laws Congress intended to apply to any given case

• Determines whether a law is unconstitutional • Determines how Congress meant the law to apply to

disputes • Determines how laws should be interpreted• Judges remain subject to impeachment and removal by

Congress • Chief Justice will preside over Impeachment Trial