The basic principles found in the U.S. Constitution include:

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1. Popular sovereignty: The authority of the government is derived from the consent of the people, and they have the ultimate power to govern themselves.

2. Limited government: The powers of the government are restricted and specified in the Constitution to prevent it from becoming too powerful and infringing upon individual rights.

3. Separation of powers: The government is divided into three branches – the legislative, executive, and judicial – to ensure a system of checks and balances, preventing any one branch from becoming too dominant.

4. Federalism: The division of power between the central government and state governments, with each having their own areas of authority and responsibilities.

5. Republicanism: The United States is a republic, where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, rather than having a direct democracy.

6. Individual rights: The Constitution protects fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals, including freedom of speech, religion, and due process.

7. Rule of law: The principle that all individuals, including those in positions of power, are subject to the law and no one is above it.

8. Judicial review: The power of the courts to review and interpret laws and determine their constitutionality.

9. Amendments: The Constitution can be amended or changed through a specific process outlined in Article V, allowing for the document to adapt to changing times and circumstances.

10. Supremacy of the Constitution: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and takes precedence over any other laws or government actions.