Federalism is the principle that divides power between a central (national) government and state governments. This structure allows states to retain certain powers while delegating others to the federal government.
Checks and balances prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful by giving each branch some measure of influence over the other branches. For example, the President can veto laws passed by Congress, while the courts can declare laws unconstitutional.
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of government is created and sustained by the consent of the people. It ensures that the government is accountable to the citizens and must reflect their will.
The separation of powers divides the government into three distinct branches: Legislative (Congress), Executive (President), and Judicial (courts). This principle ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful, promoting a system of checks and balances.
Judicial review, established in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803), gives the judiciary the power to review and possibly invalidate laws and actions by the government that are deemed unconstitutional. It is an essential safeguard for protecting constitutional rights and principles.
