Principles of government in the constitution

Limited government

Powers of the government are limited by the constitution

popular sovereignty

all authority for government flows from the people, and they ruled through their elected representatives

Republicanism

voters elect representatives to exercise power for them

Separation of powers

each branch of government has its own responsibilities and limitations. The ______ is defined in articles one, two and three of the constitution

Checks and balances

each of the three branches of government exercise some control over the others sharing power among them

Federalism

Power is divided between national (federal ) and state governments limiting central power

Individual rights

enlightenment scholars, believe that there were natural or God-given universal rights that everyone was born with. They suggested that the whole purpose of the government was to ensure these individual rights.