Name_________________________________________________Period_____Date____________
The United States Constitution - WebQuest
Go to: http://constitutioncenter.org/constitution. This website is run by the National Constitution Center, a non-profit
interactive museum and civic-education center. Explore the US Constitution on their interactive website, answering the
following questions below.
Scroll down to “Select an Article.” There are seven articles in the Constitution. Identify the topic of each:
Article 1: ____________________________________
Article 5: ________________________________________
Article 2: ____________________________________
Article 6: ________________________________________
Article 3: ____________________________________
Article 7:________________________________________
Article 4: ____________________________________
Articles 1, 2, & 3 deal with the set up of the three branches of the federal government. For each branch, explore the following:
A) Article 1 - Branch: _______________________________
When was this article ratified?__________________
What changes have been made through the amendment process to this article?
B) Article 2- Branch: ________________________________
When was this article ratified? _____________________
What changes have been made through the amendment process to this article?
C)
Article 3 – Branch: ______________________________
When was this article ratified? ________________
What changes have been made through the amendment process to this article?
The Annenberg Classroom provides an interpretation of the article. Skim the interpretation to answer the following questions:
Article 1 - Who belongs to this branch? ______________________________________________________
Give the title of the person/people who serve here: _____________________________________________________
How many people serve in the positions identified?_____________________________________________________
What powers does this Article recognize?_____________________________________________________________
Are any powers forbidden/denied to people who serve in these offices?_____________________________________
Article 2 - Who belongs to this branch? ______________________________________________________
Give the title of the person/people who serve here: _____________________________________________________
How many people serve in the positions identified?_____________________________________________________
What powers does this Article recognize?_____________________________________________________________
Are any powers forbidden/denied to people who serve in these offices?_____________________________________
Article 3 - Who belongs to this branch? ______________________________________________________
Give the title of the person/people who serve here: _____________________________________________________
How many people serve in the positions identified?_____________________________________________________
What powers does this Article recognize?_____________________________________________________________
Are any powers forbidden/denied to people who serve in these offices?_____________________________________
1
Article 4 deals with States, Citizenship, and the establishment of New States.
Find the interpretation of Ms. Linda Monk (The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the US Constitution, 2003). There is
a blue right arrow by the Annenberg Classroom interpretation. Click on the arrow, and it will take you to Ms. Monk’s
interpretation.
1. How is the Constitution different than the Articles of Confederation in the matter of state relationships?
Article 5 deals with the Amendment Process.
2. According to the Annenberg Classroom, how are amendments added to the Constitution?
3.
According to Ms. Monk, why must Article 5 have been included in the Constitution?
Article 6 is commonly referred to as the Supremacy Clause.
4. According to the Annenberg Classroom, what does constitutional supremacy mean?
5.
If a state passes a law that is in direct violation of the federal law, which law is the higher law?
Article 7 addresses the ratification of this new constitution?
6. How many states had to approve the constitution for it to go into effect?
Go back to the start page (http://constitutioncenter.org/constitution). Click on “Select an Issue.” There are just under 30
issues identified on a wide range of topics, from abortion to taxes.
Choose three issues and complete the following for all three:
2
1.
What is the issue?
2.
What does the Constitution say about the issue? Read the brief summary and summarize the summary.
3.
What parts of the Constitution deal with the issue? Identify specific articles and/or amendments.
3
1.
What is the issue?
2.
What does the Constitution say about the issue? Read the brief summary and summarize the summary.
3.
What parts of the Constitution deal with the issue? Identify specific articles and/or amendments.
1.
What is the issue?
2.
What does the Constitution say about the issue? Read the brief summary and summarize the summary.
3.
What parts of the Constitution deal with the issue? Identify specific articles and/or amendments.