The framers of the new constitution outlined seven different principles: popular sovereignty, republicanism, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and individual rights. These values helped make the constitution what it is today, and also help solve problems with the government.
Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty is the idea that the people hold absolute power. In our government, all of the government's powers are derived from the people's.
Republicanism
Republicanism is a system of limited government where the people elect representatives to conduct the government for them.
Limited Government
To try to evade the risks of a strong central government using it powers unjustly, the framers made sure the government only had powers granted it to it by the people and careful crafted out it's laws, creating a limited government, where nothing, not even the government, is above the law.
Federalism
The framers of the constitution knew they would need a strong Federal government after the Articles of Confederation, the USA's first constitution which had a very weak central government and had not worked out so well, yet they couldn't make it too strong, like Great Britain's, so they settled on federalism. Federalism is a system of government where the Federal and Central governments share power.
The constitution defines three types of powers; enumerated powers, which are given to the Federal government, reserved powers, which are given to the State governments, and concurrent powers, which both have.
Separation of Powers
To prevent any one group of the government from gaining too much authority, the constitution split the power among three branches; the executive, which carries out the law, the legislative, which makes the law, and the Judicial, which interprets the law.
Checks and Balances To even further limit the power each branch could have, the framers made a system of Checks and Balances. In this system, each branch holds some control over the other two, such as the presidents ability to veto laws made congress, in order to "Check and Balance" the power of that branch.
Individual Rights
The Bill of Rights and the rest of the 17 amendments that follow it make sure that citizens basic rights, such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion, are protected and ensured.
Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty is the idea that the people hold absolute power. In our government, all of the government's powers are derived from the people's.
Republicanism
Republicanism is a system of limited government where the people elect representatives to conduct the government for them.
Limited Government
To try to evade the risks of a strong central government using it powers unjustly, the framers made sure the government only had powers granted it to it by the people and careful crafted out it's laws, creating a limited government, where nothing, not even the government, is above the law.
Federalism
The framers of the constitution knew they would need a strong Federal government after the Articles of Confederation, the USA's first constitution which had a very weak central government and had not worked out so well, yet they couldn't make it too strong, like Great Britain's, so they settled on federalism. Federalism is a system of government where the Federal and Central governments share power.
The constitution defines three types of powers; enumerated powers, which are given to the Federal government, reserved powers, which are given to the State governments, and concurrent powers, which both have.
Separation of Powers
To prevent any one group of the government from gaining too much authority, the constitution split the power among three branches; the executive, which carries out the law, the legislative, which makes the law, and the Judicial, which interprets the law.
Checks and Balances To even further limit the power each branch could have, the framers made a system of Checks and Balances. In this system, each branch holds some control over the other two, such as the presidents ability to veto laws made congress, in order to "Check and Balance" the power of that branch.
Individual Rights
The Bill of Rights and the rest of the 17 amendments that follow it make sure that citizens basic rights, such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion, are protected and ensured.