Foundations of
the U.S. Constitution
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
Copyright and Terms of Service
Copyright © Texas Education Agency. The materials found on this website are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property
of the Texas Education Agency and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas Education
Agency, except under the following conditions:
1)Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials
and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from the Texas Education
Agency;
2) Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal
use only without obtaining written permission of the Texas Education Agency;
3) Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way;
4) No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable
charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged.
Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts or Texas charter schools or any entity,
whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from
the Texas Education Agency and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing
fee or a royalty fee.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
2
Declaration of Independence
• Second Continental Congress Meeting
– Delegates from 13 original American
colonies
– Meeting in Philadelphia
– Thomas Jefferson from Virginia
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
3
1781 Articles of Confederation
• Government to be conducted by a onehouse legislature
• Strict term limits - no person could serve
more than three years in a 6-year period
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
4
1781 Articles of Confederation
• Only legislature can:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Declare war
Make peace
Enter into treaties and alliances
Manage relations with Indian nations
Coin money
Settle differences between states
Establish a postal system
Appoint a Commander in Chief
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
5
1781 Articles of Confederation
• Common treasury funds to pay for defense or
general welfare
• Paupers, vagabonds, fugitives from justice, and
slaves were not entitled to the privileges and
immunities of free citizens of the state
• Major legislation would require a two-thirds
vote for passage
• Amendments to the Articles would require a
unanimous vote of the states
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
6
U.S. Constitution
• Convention in Philadelphia in 1787
• March 4, 1789 - government of the
U.S. began operation under the new
Constitution
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
7
Bill of Rights
• Protect human rights proclaimed in the
Declaration of Independence
– Amendment #1: freedom of speech and
freedom of religion
– Amendment #2: well regulated Militia to
ensure security of a free State
– Amendment #3: no soldier shall, in time of
peace be quartered in any house without the
consent of the owner
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
8
Bill of Rights
Amendment #4:
right of the people
to be secure in
their persons,
houses, papers,
and effects against
unreasonable
searches and
seizures
Amendment #5:
Due process of the
law, no double
jeopardy, innocent
until proven guilty
by a court of law.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
9
Bill of Rights
• Amendment #6: in criminal prosecutions, the
accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the State
and district wherein the crime shall have
been committed
• Amendment #7: Suits of common law
involving more than $20 have the right of
trial by jury
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
10
Bill of Rights
• Amendment #8: Excessive bail shall not be
required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishments inflicted
• Amendment #9: Enumeration in the
Constitution of certain rights shall not be
construed to deny or disparage others retained
by the people
• Amendment #10: powers not delegated to the
U.S. by the Constitution are reserved to the
State respectively or the people
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
11
Civil Rights Guaranteed by the
U.S. Constitution
Due process of law constitutional
requirement for
fundamental
fairness in our legal
and court system
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
12
Due Process of the Law
The right to be
secure against
unreasonable
searches and
seizures (Fourth
Amendment)
The right not
to be a witness
against
yourself (Fifth
Amendment)
In criminal
prosecutions, the
right for the
accused to a
speedy and
public trial by an
impartial jury of
the state and
district where
the crime was
committed
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
13
Due Process of the Law
• Trial by jury in civil suits where the value
in controversy exceeds $20 (Seventh
Amendment)
• Excessive bail will not be required nor
excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and
unusual punishment inflicted
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
14
Abolition of Slavery
• Thirteenth Amendment
– Ended slavery in the United States
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
15
Right to Vote
Fifteenth Amendment
denied women the right to vote
1920 - Nineteenth Amendment
gave women the right to vote
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
16
Right to Vote
• Denial by Age
– 21 was the original voting age
– Protests during the Vietnam War
– 1971-Twenty-Sixth Amendment changed
the voting age to 18
Vietnam Memorial Wall,
Washington, D.C.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
17
Peripheral Rights
• Not mentioned explicitly in the U.S.
Constitution or Bill of Rights.
• Courts have recognized them as
necessary.
• Example: Right of privacy
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
18
Assignments
Independent Practice Assignments
1. Bill of Rights PowerPoint Assignment: Split the class into teams with two students.
Each team must design a PowerPoint presentation that defines the first ten
amendments to the Constitution (Bill of Rights). The PowerPoint must give clear
examples for each amendment, using current examples. Each group will be assigned
one amendment to thoroughly define to the class.
2. Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for the Classroom Brochure and Poster: Split the
class into 10 groups. Each group must design a brochure that includes five rights and
five responsibilities for student behavior in the classroom. Members of the class will
discuss all of the brochures and select the best 10 rights and responsibilities for
classroom behavior. The class will then design a poster listing the ten rights and
responsibilities for class behavior in the classroom.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2013. All rights reserved.
19