*Copy agenda down on your notebook, (backpacks should be behind you
or on the floor).
*Copy and answer Warm-Up question. -Be ready to share answers!!
Agenda #3
Period # 4
1)Copy agenda
2) Warm-up #2
3)Lecture #3: The U.S. Constitution
4) Deciphering the Constitution activity.
5) Exit slip
The Constitution
Lesson Objective

Students will be able to analyze the preamble, articles 1-7 and amendments
1-27 of the Constitution by answering guiding questions as they work in
groups.
1.
CA Standard:
2.
12.4 students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three
branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution .
Goal Questions: #3
What are the six basic principles of the Constitution?
2. How Can the Constitution be legally changed?( name at
least one of the 4 ways)
1.
Sentence starters
1.The six basic principles of the Constitution are….
2. The Constitution can be legally changed by ….
Warm-Up #3 (3 minutes)
 Analyze
the political cartoon to
identify the symbols that are used to
describe the relationship between the
President and Congress ?
*(make sure you write in complete sentences)
Warm-Up #3
Interpreting tables: look at the table on page 57 tited “Ratification of
the Constitution” and aswer the question:
In what states was ratification won by only a narrow
margin?
Pair-Share
3 min.
Share with neighbor what they
wrote about and be ready to discuss
with whole class.
* Remember that participation will
be a part of their grade.
The Government That
Failed

The Articles of Confederation
 The
first document to govern the
United States.
 Established a confederation
among 13 states.
 Congress had few powers; no
president or national court
system.
 Most government power rested in
the states.
The Government That Failed

Economic Turmoil
 Postwar
depression left farmers unable to
pay debts

Shays’ Rebellion
 Series
of attacks on courthouses by a small
band of farmers led by Revolutionary War
Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure
proceedings.
 Economic elite concerned about Articles’
inability to limit these violations of
individual’s property rights
Representation
Economic Issues
 States
had tariffs on
products from other
states
 Paper money was
basically worthless
(14 currencies)
 Congress couldn’t
raise money
The Madisonian Model

To prevent a tyranny of the
majority, Madison proposed
a government of:
 Limiting
Majority Control
 Separating
 Creating
Powers
Checks and Balances
 Establishing
a Federal System
The Madisonian Model

The Constitution and the Electoral Process
The Madisonian Model
The Agenda in Philadelphia
Ratification
Ratifying the Constitution

Federalist Papers
A
collection of 85 articles
written by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and James Madison
under the name “Publius” to
defend the Constitution

Bill of Rights
 The
first 10 amendments to the
U.S. Constitution, drafted in
response to some of the AntiFederalist concerns about the
lack of basic liberties
Six Basic Principles of the U.S
Constitution

It originally consisted of a Preamble, or introduction, and seven sections called
articles.
1.
Popular Sovereignty: idea that people are the source of all power held by the
government.
2.
Limited Government: government only has the power that the people gives it
and must obey the Constitution; this principle is also known as
Constitutionalism.
*Government officials are subject to the rule of law– they must always obey the law and
never above it.
3.
Separation of powers: establishes the 3 separate branches that share power.
4.
Checks and balances: the constitution uses this system to ensure that none of
the three branches can become more powerful.
5.
Judicial review: the power of the courts to decide what the Constitution mean.
1.
6.
Can also declare government's actions to be unconstitutional
Federalism : principle used to divide power between the central government and
the states.
Checking for Understanding
What is constitutionalism?
Formal Amendment

Amendments are changes to the Constitution: in two way Formal or informal
Formal Amendments are changes to the Constitution’s written words( 4 Methods)
The process: Amendments are proposed at a national level by congress or at a national
convention then ratified at state level by state legislatures.

1.
Method 1: Congress proposes – State Legislatures Ratify
2.
Method 2: Congress Proposes – State Conventions Ratify
3.
Method 3: National Convention Proposes –State Legislatures ratify
4.
Method 4: National Convention Proposes – State Conventions ratify
The first ten amendments are the Bill of Rights proposed in 1789 ( approved
by the States in 1791) * the other 17 amendments became part of the
Constitution one at a time.
Checking for Understanding
Why is it important to allow the Constitution to be formally changed
through Amendments?
Constitutional Changes by Other Means

Many informal changes have been made since 1787

Unlike formal amendments, these changes have not altered the Constitution’s
actual words.

Informal Changes come from 5 sources:
1.
Basic Legislation: Congress can either pass a law to fill in details about the
specific ways the government operates or to explain certain parts of the
Constitution.
2.
Executive Action: Presidents may choose to make an executive agreement or
pact, with the head of another country instead of a treaty.
3.
Court Decisions: The Courts change it by explaining parts of it when ruling on
cases.
4.
Political Practices: Political parties have decreased the importance of the
electoral college, the group that formally selects the nation’s president.
5.
Customs: have developed in the American Government that are not mentioned in
the Constitution
Decipher the Constitution : Activity

In your group read the Preamble and articles 1-7

Then read the guiding questions/ scenarios

Evaluate each scenario and cite the Article and section that explains it.
Goal Questions: #3
What are the six basic principles of the Constitution?
2. How Can the Constitution be legally changed?( name at
least one of the 4 ways)
1.
Sentence starters
1.The six basic principles of the Constitution are….
2. The Constitution can be legally changed by ….
Vocabulary Quiz

Write the word and define.

1.Democracy

2. Self-government

3. Dictatorship

4. capitalism

5. constitutionalism
Federalist #10

Written Madison

Factions: people will inevitably will from factions

Because of uneven distribution of property

Control the source or the effects of factions

Liberty is to factions as air if to fire

How to control the effects of faction

Worry about the tyranny of the masses the poor

3 arguments

1. the