Constitutional Principles

Constitutional principles are the big ideas built into the Constitution that shape how American government is organized. They include separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, limited government, and the rule of law. Congress, the president, the courts, and the states each hold a share of authority under them.

People usually bring questions about who holds which power and how one branch can limit another. Others ask how authority is divided between the federal government and the states, where presidential power ends, and how these principles apply when branches or levels of government come into conflict.