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The Principles of the

United States Constitution

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I. Popular Sovereignty

The people hold the ultimate authority

A representative democracy lets the people

elect leaders to make decisions for them.

Orrin Hatch !o" !ennett and Chris

Cannon are our elected officials in Congress

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II. #imited $overnment

%ramers &anted to guard against tyranny

$overnment is limited to the po&er given

them in the Constitution.

The Constitution tells ho& leaders &ho

overstep their po&er can "e removed

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III. %ederalism

The division of po&er "et&een State and

'ational $overnments

Some po&ers are shared

The 'ational $overnment has the (supreme

po&er)

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I*. Separation of Po&ers

'o one holds (too much) po&er

#egislative "ranch makes the la&s

+,ecutive "ranch carries out the la&s#egislative "ranch interprets the la&s

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#egislative !ranch

Senate and House of -epresentatives

ake our la&s

Appropriate oney

-egulate Immigration

+sta"lish Post Offices and -oads

-egulate Interstate Commerce andTransportation

/eclare 0ar

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+,ecutive !ranch

The President of the United States

Chief +,ecutive

Chief of StateChief #egislator

Commander in Chief

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1udicial !ranch

Supreme Court and other %ederal Courts

Preserve and protect the rights guaranteed

"y the Constitution

Considers cases involving national la&s

/eclares la&s and acts (unconstitutional)

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*. Checks and !alances

Prevents the a"use of po&er in government

+ach "ranch can check each other "ranch

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+,ecutive Checks

Propose la&s to Congress

*eto la&s made "y Congress

'egotiate foreign treatiesAppoint federal 2udges

$rant pardons to federal offenders

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#egislative Checks

Override president3s veto

-atify treaties

Confirm e,ecutive appointments Impeach federal officers and 2udges

Create and dissolve lo&er federal courts

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1udicial Checks

/eclare e,ecutive acts unconstitutional

/eclare la&s unconstitutional

/eclare acts of Congress unconstitutionalThe Supreme Court holds the final check