17.2 - Principles of the US Constitution Flashcards
What are the main principles of the US constitution?
- Limited government
- Separation of powers
- Checks and balances
- Bipartisanship
- Federalism
What are principles?
Fundamental beliefs or ideals.
In regards to the constitution, they may not be explicitly mentioned, but they underpin the writing of the document.
Why is limited government a principle of the US constitution?
After the fight against the British monarchy and taxation without representation, the Founding Fathers were unwilling to create a federal government with unlimited powers.
How did the Founding Fathers go about limiting the government?
- Separation of powers
- Checks and balances
What is a limited government?
A government is subject to restrictions on the power it can exercise over a country or its citizens.
Why did the founding fathers not want a federal government with unchecked powers?
It could challenge the authority of the state governments that the founding fathers represented.
How did the founding fathers want to ensure individual freedoms were protected?
Include a Bill of Rights into the Constitution.
What did the Bill of Rights do?
Ensured that the government could not remove the individual rights of the people.
The Bill of Rights was not part of the Constitution in 1787. T/F?
True. It was added later.
Where did the founding fathers draw influence from to achieve a limited government?
‘The Spirit of the Laws’ by the Baron de Montesquieu, an eighteenth-century French philosopher.
What was the ‘Spirit of the Laws’?
A book that argued for three separate branches of government.
- Executive
- Legislature
- Judiciary
How did the founding fathers ensure a separation of powers?
Splitting the government into three distinct sections:
- Congress (legislature)
- President (executive)
- Supreme Court (judiciary)
How did the founding fathers ensure powers were further separated?
Included an ‘ineligibility clause’ of Article 1.
Prevented people from being members of more than one branch at a time.
Where did the founding fathers draw inspiration from to achieve checks and balances?
The Baron de Montesquieu. (same guy they drew inspiration for separation of powers)
What are checks and balances?
The power of one branch to directly prevent the action of another branch, thus ‘checking’ their action.
As all branches can ‘check’ the actions of the others, a ‘balance’ of powers are achieved.
What is bipartisanship?
The ability of two or more parties to work together to achieve an outcome.
How does the federal government allow for shared sovereignty?
The federal government maintains power over some branches, the state legislature maintains power over others.
What does shared sovereignty allow for?
- States’ rights are not ignored.
- State cultures and beliefs are not ignored.
How is bipartisanship reinforced in the constitution?
Supermajorities are required in some instances, forcing parties to compromise.
(Clotures, constitutional changes etc.)
