What principles does the constitution embody?
• The Constitution attempts to create a government that would be strong enough to protect commerce and property rights yet weak enough not to threaten individual liberties. • Accordingly, the framers created a system of separation of powers, checks and balances, different means of selection for officeholders, a federal system, and a Bill of Rights. II. What was the intent of the framers of the Constitution regarding the legislative, executive, and judicial branches? • The bicameral legislature was designed so that only the House of Representatives was directly chosen by the people • To prevent “excessive democracy,” the Senators were appointed by the State Legislators to staggered six-year terms. • In part to reassure citizens of their voice in government, the (relatively democratic) legislative branch was designed to be the most powerful branch. Furthermore, the powers of the government were limited by the Constitution to only those powers given to Congress by the Constitution. • The
