Principles of the Constitution Essay - 1057 Words

April 21, 2013 Principles of the Constitution POS 301 Part I: Principles of the Constitution | | DEFINITION | | Self-Government | A government in which the people who live in a place make laws for themselves. | In Massachusetts Bay, men who owned property could go to a town meeting and vote. | Separation of Powers | Power of the Constitution is divided among the three branches. | James Madison and the other authors of the Constitution created three branches to make sure that the government’s powers were limited. | Checks and Balances | A system that lets each branch limit the power of the other two. | No single branch or person had the power to run the United States alone. | The U.S. Constitution is the†¦show more content†¦Part II: The Three Branches of the Government | Legislative Branch Headed by Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) * Pass Laws * Originate Bills * Impeach officials * Approve treaties Executive Branch Headed by the president * Direct the government * Command the Armed Forces * Deal with international powers * Act as chief law enforcement officer * Veto laws Judicial Branch Headed by the Supreme Court * Interpret the Constitution * Review laws * Decide cases involving states’ rights Balance of Power Interaction/The ways each branch of the national government can check the power of the other two branches: The Supreme Court can declare a law passed by Congress unconstitutional The Supreme Court can declare the President’s actions unconstitutional The President chooses the judges for the national government’s courts The President approves or vetoes laws passed by Congress Congress must approve the judges the President chooses for the national court If two-thirds of the Senate and House agree, Congress can pass a law even if the president has vetoed it How a bill becomes a law: All of the laws in the United States begin as a bill, which must be approved by the Senate, House of Representatives, and the President. The bill stars as an idea from a representative or a citizen who has an idea and tells their representative about the idea. The representative then decides if the idea isShow MoreRelatedThe Principles Of The American Constitution1720 Words   |  7 PagesThe principles of the American constitution base it’s ideals on Judeo-Christian beliefs and morals. Laws against murder, adultery, theft and practices deemed â€Å"unholy† were instituted with belief these guidelines and restrictions would create a stable but more importantly, prosperous nation economically and socially. 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