American Government Study Guide

Chapter 1: Foundational Principles of Government

Overview In this chapter, we will be looking at the �ive foundational principles of government that are evident throughout the Constitution of the United States. We will examine why these principles were so im- portant to adhere to when developing a plan of government. Learning Objectives At the end of this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Identify the �ive foundational principles of government. 2. Understand why the principles of government needed to be applied to the constitution. 3. Explain how these principles will address the weakness experienced by the Articles of Con- federation. 1.1 Popular Sovereignty The power and the authority of any governing body must come from a declared source. Before the American Revolution, that power and authority rested solely with the monarch in England. After the Declaration of Independence, during the Second Continental Congress, the original thirteen colonies rati�ied the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles of Confederation, the power and authority of government rested independently within the thirteen colonies or states at that time. By operating independently ultimately made the federal central government weak, which resulted in the failure of the Articles of Confederation. The desire to create a government that was by the people and for the people requires the people to have a greater ownership with their government. The United States Constitution was written with the principle that the people must hold the power and authority in government. That principle is popular sovereignty . By transferring the power of government to the people, this ensures that all citizens have not only a say in government, but a responsibility to take an active part in government. So how does the constitu tion re�lect popular sovereignty? Citizens directly elect Congress and the President through state and national elections. This republic style of government or representative form of government allows citizens to replace elected of�icials through elections once a sitting mem- ber’s term has expired. The election process is the very essence of what popular sovereignty repre- sents and displays. It is what make the constitution the necessary replacement for the Articles of Confederation.

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