Principles of the
f/.S. Constitution
TAKS OBJECTIVE 4
8.16.D
Learning Objecth:e Analyze how the U.S. Constitution reflects the principles of
limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, fedcralism, separation of
powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights.
As you have learned, the U.S. Constitution is founded on the seven principles listed
in the objective above. The charts below summarize how the Constitution reflects
the lxt four of these principles. Review the charts before answering the questions
on the next page.
How the Constitution Reflects the Principle of
Federalism:
.
System of govein-
ment in which the
state and national
governments share
.
power
'
. lt spells
out the
powers of the
national government
and states that
national law is the
supreme law of the
country. lt states
that powers ngt
do
t
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o
=Ol
:
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c
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ol
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lndividual Rights:
Separation of Powers:
delegated to the
national government
belong to the states
or the people.
. lt identifies the
powers denied the
Congress and the
states.
. lt declares that
states must honor
one another's laws,
records, and court
rulings.
. lt requires the
approval ofthe
states for
Constitutional
amendments-
The division
of
basic government
.
allthe power
. The preamble begins
"We the people of
the United States . . .
do ordain and
establish this
Constitution . . .,"
which indicates that
the government's
authority comes from
. The first three
articles of the
Constitution state
how powers are
split among the
three branches of
government. ln
general, Congress
makes the laws,
the Prgsident
enforces them,
and the judiciary
interprets them.
. The President is
the commander of
the armed forces,
but only Congress
can declare war.
The government gets
its authority from the
people and reflects
their will
roles into different
branches, with no
one branch having
. Liberties and privi-
Fopular Sovereignty:
the people.
. lt states that the
people will elect
representatives. All
citizens 18 years and
older are allowed to
leges guaranteed
to each citizen
. The Bill of Rights
guarantees freedom
of religion, speech,
the press, and
assembly as well as
the rightto petition
the government and
the rightto equal
protection under
the law.
. Later amendments
abqlished slavery
and extended voting
and other individual
rights to all citizens
18 years and older.
vote.
. lt declares
.
that the
people or the states
keep any powers not
delegated to the
national government.
lt guarantees all
citizens the same
rights and equal pro-
tection of the laws.
r
TAKS Objective 4: Review 59