American Government is one of the fundamental introductory history courses you must take if you are a history major. The subject teaches on the United States and its history, formation and inception. Although you will learn many elements of American Government, one of the truly important details that will be imprinted in your brain is the Five Principles of the Constitution. Those interested will find information for online college history classes helpful as they progress.

The original intent of the framers of the Constitution was to set up a government that would not result in a monarchy. They wanted a strong government that could withstand the European model. Consequently, the government was separated into five basic principles: popular sovereignty, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

The principle of the rule of the people is clearly defined at the start of the Constitution. As an agreement between the people and the government, the Constitution set boundaries and barriers to government control and regulation. In essence, the government is under the authority of the people.

In an attempt to create a balance between too much government and too little, limited government was enacted. According to this principle, the government has only the power given as outlined in the Constitution. It also outlines what power the national government does not have. The limits of the government are clearly documented in the Bill of Rights, which guarantees the government’s inability to take away certain individual freedoms.

Federalism divided the government into to sections – federal and state. The federal government has the power to deal with national issues, while the states have the power to meet local needs. The Constitution does not list specific powers of the states, but instead it mandates all powers not specifically given to the federal government be reserved for the states. However, the Constitution is clear about the powers the state does not have.

Separation of powers was created so that no one person or groups abuse their power. Consequently, the national government was divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Congress (legislative branch) is made up of two houses: the House of Representative and Senate; this body of government makes laws. The executive branch is headed by the President of the United States who carries out the law, while the Supreme Court, who interprets and clarifies laws, heads up the judicial branch.

Through a system of checks and balances, the framers of the Constitution ensured no one entity gains too much power. With this principle, each branch of government controls the other. Congress can pass a bill or propose a law, but the President can veto or reject a bill and send it back to Congress. At the same time, the Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional. Searching for college online shouldn’t require much time or energy, and it could prove to be worth the effort.

The American Government course is part of the fundamental online college courses history majors must partake in. It will certainly cover more topics that the ones discussed, but the principles of the Constitution are foundational for understanding the operation of the U.S. government system, so visit eLearners Online to sign up for class!