What are the main principles of the Constitution?

Asked by: Dr. Justus Gerlach | Last update: January 30, 2026

Score: 4.2/5 (38 votes)

The main principles of the U.S. Constitution establish a limited, representative government with divided powers, ensuring liberty and preventing tyranny through Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federalism, Republicanism, and Individual Rights, with the Rule of Law as a foundational concept. These principles distribute authority, hold government accountable, and protect citizens' freedoms.

What are the major principles of the Constitution?

The six major principles of the Constitution are popular sovereignty, separation of powers, judicial review, limited government, checks and balances and federalism.

Which is the most important principle of our Constitution?

All rights appertaining to freedom are therefore equal to every man and woman. No people, no nation had ever spoken as this before: We are free; thus, we are sovereign. This fundamental principle of self-government is the lodestar of all constitutional jurisprudence.

What are the core values of the Constitution?

It fixes the basic structure of government and some of its important procedures while expressing our com- mitment to certain core values: liberty, equality, and democracy.

What are the basic principles?

Basic principles refer to the fundamental ideas or rules that serve as the foundation for a system of thought, behavior, or conduct. These principles are essential guidelines or truths that influence decisions, actions, or frameworks within various fields, including law, business, ethics, and social systems.

Principles of the United States Constitution

19 related questions found

What are the 5 key principles?

Five key principles

Principle 1: A presumption of capacity. ...
Principle 2: Individuals being supported to make their own decisions. ...
Principle 3: Unwise decisions. ...
Principle 4: Best interests. ...
Principle 5: Less restrictive option.

What are the principles of constitutional law?

There exists no single definitive list of constitutional principles, but their fundamental content is widely agreed. These can be grouped as follows: institutional checks and balances, representative government, the rule of law, protection of fundamental rights and integrity and standards in public life.

What are the four major ideals of our Constitution?

Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity in the Preamble

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution emphasizes four key values: justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. These ideals are essential for building a fair and inclusive society.

What are the six main goals of the Constitution?

What are the 6 main goals of the Constitution? The Preamble of this document states its six main goals: to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, to ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for the common defense, to promote the general welfare, and to secure the blessings of liberty.

What are the 10 fundamental values of the Constitution?

These values include human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms, non-racialism and non-sexism, supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, democracy, social justice and equity and respect.

What are the three most important words in the Constitution?

Its first three words – “We The People” – affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The supremacy of the people through their elected representatives is recognized in Article I, which creates a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

What are the main principles?

To "act on principle" is to act in accordance with one's moral ideals. Principles are absorbed in childhood through a process of socialization. There is a presumption of liberty of individuals that is restrained. Exemplary principles include First, do no harm, the Golden Rule and the Doctrine of the Mean.

What does the U.S. Constitution say in simple terms?

The Meaning

The framers of the Constitution separated the powers of government into three branches, granting legislative power (the power to pass laws) to Congress, executive power (the power to administer the laws) to the president, and judicial power (the power to interpret and enforce the laws) to the courts.

What are 5 directive principles?

Directive Principles are classified under the following categories: Economic and Socialistic, Political and Administrative, Justice and Legal, Environmental, Protection of Monuments, Peace and Security.

What are the 5 fundamental principles of government?

Consent of the governed; Limited government; Rule of Law; Democracy; Representative government.

What are the four key principles of American constitutionalism?

Core principles

Rule of law. The Constitution is the supreme legal authority, binding all government branches and citizens. ...
Separation of powers. ...
Checks and balances. ...
Judicial review. ...
Federalism. ...
Individual rights.

What are the 6 basic principles of the U.S. Constitution?

The Six Big Ideas are:

limited government.
republicanism.
checks and balances.
federalism.
separation of powers.
popular sovereignty.

What is the highest law in our country?

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. All laws in the United States need to follow the Constitution.

What happens if someone violates the Constitution?

This will typically be in the form of a lawsuit against the party that violated your constitutional rights. Generally, that would include the police officer who arrested you, though there are other players in your situation who could be liable.

What are the five values of the Constitution?

The values expressed in the Preamble are expressed as objectives of the Constitution. These are: sovereignty, socialism, secularism, democracy, republican character of Indian State, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, human dignity and the unity and integrity of the Nation.

What are the four constitutional rights?

First Amendment: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. Second Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Third Amendment: restricts housing soldiers in private homes. Fourth Amendment: protects against unreasonable search and seizure.

What are three big ideals of the U.S. Constitution?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

What are the 5 basic principles of the U.S. Constitution?

However, the Framers instead crafted an entirely new framework of government—the U.S. Constitution. We are going to focus on some of the key principles underlying the U.S. Constitution: popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, and republicanism. What do we mean by popular sovereignty?