1. The Ideas Behind the Constitution
GED® Social Studies: Constitutional Principles & Federalism · preview lesson
American civics starts with a simple question: where should government power come from? The Declaration of Independence answers that government gets its just powers from the consent of the governed. The Constitution then builds a practical system around that idea.
Four principles appear again and again on the GED®. Popular sovereignty means power comes from the people. Limited government means government has only the powers the law gives it. Rule of law means leaders and citizens must obey the same legal system. Republican government means people elect representatives instead of voting on every law directly.
The Constitution also separates power so that no single branch controls everything. Congress makes laws, the President enforces laws, and the courts interpret laws. This design is not accidental. It is meant to slow government down, force debate, and protect liberty.
References: National Archives: America's Founding Documents
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