The Constitution: Principles of the Constitution
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Questions and Answers

What are the principles of the Constitution?

Separation of powers, checks and balances, the federal division of power.

What is separation of powers?

A theory of government whereby political power is distributed among three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.

How does the Constitution separate the powers?

It divides the national government into three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.

What is limited government?

<p>The principle that the size and scope of the federal government should be limited to what is necessary for the common good.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the Founding Fathers hope to achieve by separating the powers?

<p>They aimed for the three branches to be independent yet co-equal, operate checks and balances on each other, and promote limited government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Founding Fathers want to separate the powers?

<p>To avoid tyranny by ensuring law making, executing, and enforcing are carried out by separate branches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are checks and balances?

<p>A system where each branch of government exercises control over the actions of the other branches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The powers of the branches of government are completely separate.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the legislature check the executive?

<p>By amending, delaying, or rejecting legislation, overriding presidential vetoes, controlling the budget, and confirming appointments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the legislature check the judiciary?

<p>By confirming appointments, initiating constitutional amendments, and impeaching members of the judiciary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the executive check the legislature?

<p>By recommending legislation, vetoing legislation, and calling Congress into special session.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the executive check the judiciary?

<p>By appointing judges and granting pardons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the judiciary check the legislature?

<p>Through judicial review, the power to declare Acts of Congress unconstitutional.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the judiciary check the executive?

<p>Through judicial review, the power to declare actions of the executive branch unconstitutional.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is decentralisation?

<p>The principle by which government power is vested in both the federal and state governments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the federal division of powers?

<p>The division of power between the national government and the state governments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are states' rights?

<p>The rights, powers, and duties of state governments, often opposing the federal government's power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the Constitution divide the federal powers?

<p>It is done through Articles I, II, and III, which define the powers of the national government, and Amendment X, which reserves powers to the states.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has the idea of federalism been able to change since the creation of the Constitution?

<p>The Constitution did not lay down a definite line between the concurrent powers of the national and state governments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Principles of the Constitution

  • Based on three key principles: separation of powers, checks and balances, and federal division of power.
  • Separation of powers distributes authority among three branches: legislative, executive, and judiciary, functioning independently yet interdependently.

Separation of Powers

  • Distributes political power across three branches of government.
  • Legislative (Congress) makes laws, executive (headed by the president) enforces laws, and judiciary (Supreme Court) interprets laws.

Limited Government

  • Asserts that the federal government should only operate within necessary limits for the common good of the populace.

Goals of the Founding Fathers

  • Aimed for co-equal branches functioning independently.
  • Sought to create checks and balances and promote limited government, reflecting the belief that "government is best which governs least."

Reasons for Separation

  • To prevent tyranny by ensuring lawmaking, execution, and enforcement are carried out by separate bodies with distinct personnel.
  • Notable resignations illustrated separation: Obama, Biden, and Clinton left the Senate to join the executive branch.

Checks and Balances

  • A system where each governmental branch exercises control over the others to prevent abuses of power.

Shared Powers

  • Despite the separation of institutions, powers are shared among branches, described more accurately as a theory of shared powers rather than complete separation.

Legislative Checks

  • Checks the executive by amending or rejecting legislation, overriding vetoes, controlling budgets, confirming appointments, ratifying treaties, declaring war, investigating, and impeachment.
  • Checks the judiciary through confirming appointments, initiating constitutional amendments, and impeaching judges.

Executive Checks

  • Can recommend or veto legislation, and call special sessions of Congress.
  • Checks the judiciary by appointing judges and granting pardons.

Judicial Checks

  • Exercises judicial review, capable of declaring Congress's Acts or executive actions unconstitutional.

Decentralisation

  • Government power is not solely centralized but distributed between federal and state governments.

Federal Division of Powers

  • Underlies the Constitution, balancing centralized authority with state autonomy, informed by historical experiences.
  • Supports national unity while allowing regional diversity, suitable for a large, diverse nation.

States' Rights

  • Refers to powers and responsibilities of state governments, often used in opposition to expanding federal power.

Division of Federal Powers in the Constitution

  • Implicit federalism: no direct mention in Constitution, but delineated through Articles laying out national powers and the Tenth Amendment reserving powers to states and the people.
  • Unique powers reserved for the federal government include coining money, negotiating treaties, and maintaining military forces.
  • Guarantees states’ rights like equal Senate representation and protections against unilateral changes.

Evolution of Federalism

  • Constitution allowed flexibility for the concept of federalism to evolve, avoiding strict delineation between national and state powers, promoting adaptive governance over centuries.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamental principles of the Constitution, including separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. This quiz provides flashcard-style questions to help reinforce your understanding of these key concepts.

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