Final answer:
The six principles of government in the Constitution are popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The six principles of government the Framers embedded in the U.S. Constitution include popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism. These principles have allowed the Constitution to remain a living document, adaptable yet robust enough to only require 27 formal amendments in over 227 years.
Popular sovereignty reflects that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives. Limited government means that the document sets clear limits on what the government can do. Separation of powers divides authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Checks and balances ensure no single branch gains too much power. Judicial review allows courts to interpret the law and the Constitution. Lastly, federalism allocates power between the national government and the states, creating a balance.
The Constitution was designed as a blueprint for a new form of democratic government—a Federal Republic. These principles were not just abstract ideas; they were practical guides to instituting a government that could simultaneously empower and limit itself, ensuring the protection of individual liberties and the functioning of a representative democracy.