Warm-up
Some people
still have the
Checkpoint
due
(30 points)
Notebook Set-up
Number your pages 1-25 starting on the
next clean right hand page
Tic Tac Toe
Project Due
(30 points)
1
Constitution Table of Contents
2
Blank
3
Vocabulary
4
Warm-up/ activity
5
Constitution and Preamble Notes
Warm-up: Write and complete each
statement or question.
first
The Articles of Confederation was the _________
constitution of the United States.
states
2. Under the Articles of Confederation the ________
had most of the power.
3. What was the purpose of the Constitutional
Convention?
-discuss and fix the problems under the Articles
4. What was the outcome of the Constitutional
Convention? a new constitution
1.
Vocabulary Check
 Constitutional







Convention
Great Compromise
Bicameral
Federalists
Anti-federalists
3/5th Compromise
Preamble
Bill of Rights
 Federalism
 Popular sovereignty
 Separation of powers
 Checks and balances
 Expressed powers
 Reserved powers
 Concurrent powers
 amendment
U.S. Constitution
Part I- Preamble
Part II- 7 Articles
Part III- 27 Amendments
“Constitution and the Preamble”
Today’s Essential Questions
1. WHAT IS THE PREAMBLE?
2. EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
WORDS “WE THE PEOPLE”.
3. LIST THE 6 PURPOSES OF AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT STATED IN THE
PREAMBLE
The Constitution
PART I
PREAMBLE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OyU
4O80i4&safety_mode=true&persist_safety
_mode=1&safe=active
 The new constitution written in Philadelphia in 1787
provided a
FRAMEWORK
for a new, stronger national government
Patrick Henry
FACT:
James Madison
played such an
important role
in creating
the
Constitution;
he is called
the
“
James Madison
“Father of the Constitution”
Notes
 The Preamble is the first part of the
Constitution.
 It expresses the reasons the Constitution
was written.
 “We the People” establishes that the power
of government comes from the people
The Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish justice, insure the domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the
General Welfare, and secure the Blessing of Liberty
for ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United States of America.
Complete #1 and 2 on your worksheet
Can you recite the Preamble?
It is not as easy as it looks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuPQgV8yBM&feature=related
In Civics, we need to
understand what it means…
Meet with your 12:00 partner and complete the
chart on your worksheet
What the Preamble
says
in order to form a more
perfect union
establish justice
insure the domestic
tranquility
provide for the common
defence
promote the common
Welfare
secure the Blessing of
Liberty for ourselves and
our Posterity
What it means
Why was it needed
Conclusion
 Write your conclusion and get it stamped.
Let’s put it all together…. Really!
Complete the Preamble Scramble
Activity on the
back of the worksheet.
When you are finished, you can
work on your homework …
 write the Preamble in your own words
Checking for Understanding
Identify What is the purpose of the
Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?
It states the goals and purposes of the
government.
Group Activity
Task: The class will create a “Patchwork Quilt” of the
Preamble.
Directions:
1. You will be put into groups
2. Each group will be assigned a portion of the
Preamble
3. The group will get a piece of poster paper
On the poster paper, your group must:
 Clearly write out your portion of the Preamble
 Draw a picture(s) of what the Preamble portion
means
 Be colorful, creative
 Try to fill up as much of the poster paper as possible.
It will be linked to the other groups’.
 This is due at the end of class.
The United States Constitution
 It is our written plan for government
 It is a “Living “document which means it can adapt,
grow and changes with our changing society.
 It is the supreme law of the land which means it has
the final say in issues about the government and law
What does the Constitution do?
 It establishes the structure of government for the
U.S.
 It guarantees equality under the law to all American
citizens.
 It affirms (declares) the worth and dignity of all
citizens.
 It guarantees that the majority will rule and the
rights of the minority will be protected.
What does the constitution do for you?
It establishes and protects your basic rights and
freedoms