Here's a breakdown of the fundamental principles of the United States Constitution, along with their meanings and examples:
| Principle | Meaning | Example | |-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Limited Government | The government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it, protecting individual freedoms. | The Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments) restricts government power over personal liberties. | | Rule of Law | Everyone, including government officials, must follow the law. | Supreme Court cases like Brown v. Board of Education establish that laws must uphold constitutional rights for all. | | Federalism | The division of power between national and state governments. | States can enact their own laws on education, while the federal government manages immigration and foreign affairs. | | Separation of Powers| The government is divided into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent concentration of power. | Congress (legislative) makes laws, the President (executive) enforces laws, and the Courts (judicial) interpret laws. | | Checks and Balances | Each branch of government can limit the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. | The President can veto legislation passed by Congress, while Congress can override that veto with a two-thirds majority. | | Popular Sovereignty | The government's power is derived from the consent of the governed; the people are the ultimate source of political authority. | Elections allow citizens to choose their representatives and influence government policy. |
This table summarizes the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution, outlining their meanings and giving real-world examples of how they manifest in the operation of American government.
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