U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 2: The Constitution
2.4 Principles of the Constitution
Notes
The Constitution rests on a few core principles.
- Popular sovereignty: the people are the source of government power.
- Limited government and the rule of law: government has only the powers the people give it, and leaders must obey the law.
- Separation of powers: Congress makes laws, the president enforces them, the courts interpret them.
- Checks and balances: each branch can limit the others.
- Federalism: power is divided between the national and state governments.
- Judicial review: courts can strike down laws and actions that violate the Constitution. It is not written in the Constitution; the Supreme Court claimed it in ***Marbury v. Madison* (1803)**.
| Check | Who checks whom |
|---|---|
| Veto | President checks Congress |
| Override (2/3 of both houses) | Congress checks president |
| Senate confirms judges | Congress checks president and courts |
| Judicial review | Courts check Congress and president |
| Impeachment | Congress checks president and judges |
Practice
The Senate refuses to confirm a person the president nominated to be a federal judge. This is an example of:
The Senate's confirmation power checks the president's appointment power.
Which Supreme Court case established the power of judicial review?
In 1803, Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that courts can strike down unconstitutional laws.
A governor is charged with breaking a state law and must stand trial like any other person. This illustrates:
The rule of law means no one is above the law.
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