U.S. Constitution core ideas

Answer 1

Major ideas that were built into the US Constitution are:

Rule of Law- laws apply to everyone, including those that make them.

popular sovereignty - rule of the people, the power lies with the people.

Judicial review- judges have the right to determine based on precedent whether laws are constitutional.

separation of powers- 3 different branches of government, each with different duties.

federalism- divides power within levels of government, different powers to state and national government

checks and balances- prevents any one branch to become more powerful.

Answer 2

Free speech allows for open criticism of the U.S. government, which has led to many reforms throughout U.S. history.

Freedom of religion has led to America becoming a religiously diverse country without an official national religious body, and some religions (such as Mormonism) actually originated in the U.S.

The abolition of slavery is now part of the Constitution, but historically, slaves were an important part of the economy of many parts of the U.S. The economic and cultural impact of eliminating slavery was tremendous.

Representative government also allowed many groups to elect candidates they felt represented them--their region, their beliefs and their interests.

Answer 3

Prevent anyone from attaining too much power. Prevent the tyranny of the majority. And to protect the established order from the people, what the founders termed as protections form the 'passions of the people'.