Name
SOL# CE.2a
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
American Constitutional Government
Vocabulary
Hook:
1. What would happen if there was no government?
2. What is democracy?
3. What is the difference between a democracy and a dictatorship?
Processing:
Read inter-active reading page and answer the following questions.

What is our constitutional government based on?

How many fundamental political principles is our constitutional government
based on?

What is the first fundamental principle?

What does this principle mean (or state)?

What is the second fundamental principle?

What does this principle mean (or state)?

What is the third fundamental principle?

What does this principle mean (or state)?

What is the fourth fundamental principle?

What does this principle mean (or state)?

What is the fifth fundamental principle?

What does this principle mean (or state)?
Name
SOL# CE.2a
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Fundamental Principles
Vocabulary
CE.2a
rule of law
CE.2a
consent of the governed
CE.2a
limited government
the government and
those who govern are
bound by the law
Sentence
people are the source of
any and all
governmental power
Sentence
the government is not
all powerful and can
only do those things
that the people have
allowed it to do
CE.2a
representative
government
CE.2a
Democracy
CE.2a
Fundamental
Sentence Example
Sentence
people elect
officeholders to make
laws and conduct
government on their
behalf
a system of
government based on
the principle of
majority decisionmaking
Sentence
Sentence
basic
Name
SOL# CE.2a
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Fundamental Principles
Notes
Hook:
1. Who is the source of power in a representative form of government?
2. What do you think Abraham Lincoln meant when he stated, “…government of
the people, for the people and by the people”?
Processing:
Find a newspaper or magazine article that shows an example of one of the five (5)
fundamental principles of American government
Name
SOL# CE.2a
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Fundamental Principles
Foldable of the 5 Fundamental Principles
Objective: I,___________, will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations
of American constitutional government by:
a) explaining the fundamental principles of: consent of the
governed, limited government, rule of law, democracy, and
representative government.
EU: I understand that:
Fundamental political principles define and shape American constitutional
government.
EQ: My question is
What are the fundamental political principles that have shaped government in the
United States?
EK: I now know that:
Fundamental Political Principles
• Consent of the governed—People are the source of any and all
governmental power.
• Limited government—Government is not all-powerful and may do
only those things people have given it the
power to do.
• Rule of law—the government and those who govern are bound
by the law.
• Democracy—in a democratic system of government the people
rule.
• Representative government—in a representative system of
government people elect public
officeholders to make laws and
conduct government on their behalf.
Name
SOL# CE.2b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Significant Documents of American Constitutional Government
Vocabulary
Hook:
1. What is independence?
2. Who did the colonist demand their independence from and why?
3. Do you feel the colonists were right? Explain your answer.
Processing:
Read pages: 33-49. Create an illustration (drawing) that would explain the events
leading up to the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
Name
SOL# CE.2b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Significant Documents of American Constitutional Government
Vocabulary
Date established and the Author
CE.2b
Charters of
the Virginia
Company of
London
CE.2b
Virginia Declaration
of Rights
CE.2b
Declaration of
Independence
stated that the rights of
the English men were
guaranteed to colonists
served as a model for
the Bill of Rights of the
Constitution of the
United States of
America
 Stated grievances against
Date established and the Author
the king of Great Britain
 Declared the colonies’


CE.2b
Date established and the Author

Articles of
Confederation


independence from Great
Britain
Affirmed “certain
unalienable rights” (life,
liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness)
Established the ideas that
all people are equal under
the law
Established the first form
of national government
for the independent
states
Maintained that major
powers resided with
individual states
Weakness of central
government (no power to
tax and enforce laws) led
to the writing of the U.S.
Constitution
Date established and the Author
Date established and the Author
CE.2b
Virginia
Statutes for
Religious
Freedom
CE.2b
established freedom of
religious beliefs and
opinions
 Establishes the structure

Constitution of
the United States of America


Date established and the Author
of the United States
government
Guarantees equality
under the law with
majority rule and the
rights of the minority
protected
Affirms individual worth
and dignity of all people
Protects the fundamental
freedoms of religion,
speech, press, assembly,
and petition
CE.2b
Find the sentence in the IAR that
explains “unalienable rights”.
rights that cannot be
taken away
unalienable rights
CE.2b
List a grievance you have with home,
school or your community.
Grievances
complaints
CE.2b
Bill of Rights
The First 10
Amendments of the
United States
Constitution
List the titles of the First 10
Amendment
Name
SOL# CE.2b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Significant Documents of American Constitutional Government
Notes
Hook:
1. Name at least two (2) historical documents that may have influenced the writing
of our United States Constitution as we know it today.
2. What was the first official document of the new government called after the
colonist won their independence?
Processing:
Complete a timeline using dates, pictures and words for the founding documents listed
in the essential knowledge.
Name
SOL# CE.2b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
Significant Documents of American Constitutional Government
Notes
Objective:
I____________, will demonstrate knowledge of the foundations
of American constitutional government by:
b) explaining the significance of the charters of the Virginia Company
of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of
Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Virginia Statute
for Religious Freedom, and the Constitution of the United States,
including the Bill of Rights.
EU: I need to understand that:
1. American constitutional government is founded on concepts
articulated in earlier documents, including the charters of the Virginia
Company of London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration
of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia
Statute for Religious Freedom.
EQ: My question is:
How does the Constitution of the United States of America reflect
previous documents, including the charters of the Virginia Company of
London, the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of
Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Virginia Statute for
Religious Freedom?
EK: I now know that:
Influence of earlier documents on the Constitution of the United States of
America include:
 The Charters of the Virginia Company of London guaranteed the rights of Englishmen
to the colonists.
 The Virginia Declaration of Rights served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the
Constitution of the United States of America.
 The Declaration of Independence
– stated grievances against the king of Great Britain
– declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain
– affirmed “certain unalienable rights” (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
– established the idea that all people are equal under the law.
 The Articles of Confederation
– established the first form of national government for the independent states
– maintained that major powers resided with individual states
created weak central government (e.g., no power to tax or enforce laws); led to
the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America.
 The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom stated freedom of religious beliefs and
opinions.
–
The Constitution of the United States of America, including the Bill of Rights,
 established the structure of the United States government
 guaranteed equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority
protected
 affirmed individual worth and dignity of all people
 protected the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and
petition.

The Bill of Rights, The first 10 Amendments of the United States Constitution.
Name
SOL# CE.2c
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: The Preamble
Vocabulary
Hook:
1. Which document begins, “We the people…..”?
2. How many parts are there to the U.S. Constitution?
3. Where are the purposes of our government found?
4. In what part of the Constitution are these purposes found?
Processing:
Complete the Preamble Scramble by putting the words/phrases in the
correct order.
Name
SOL# CE.2c
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: The Preamble
Vocabulary
Who has these duties?
CE.2c
domestic
tranquility
to maintain peace
and order,
keeping citizens
and their
property safe
from harm
List the reasons
CE.2c
Preamble
the opening
section of the
Constitution that
expresses the
reasons it was
written
List 4 of these freedoms
CE.2c
Liberties
the freedom to
think or act
without being
constrained by
necessity or force
Name
SOL# CE.2c
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: The Preamble
Notes
Hook:
1. List some protections your parents provide for you at home.
2. What protections does our government provide for its citizens?
Processing:
Find illustrations that would explain the following purposes/goals of our government as
stated in the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution.
… a more perfect union…
…provide for a common
defense…
…establish justice…
…promote the general
welfare…
…insure domestic tranquility
(peace)…
…to secure the blessings of
liberty…
Name
SOL# CE.2c
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: The Preamble
Notes
Objective: I, ___________, will demonstrate knowledge of the
foundations of American constitutional government
by:
c) identifying the purposes for the Constitution of the
United States as stated in its Preamble.
EU: I must understand that:
The Preamble of a Constitution sets forth the goals and purposes to
be served by the government.
EQ: So my question(s) is:
What are the purposes identified in the Preamble to the Constitution
of the United States of America?
EK: I now know that:
The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America
expresses the reasons the Constitution was written.
Purposes of United States government
o To form a more perfect union
o To establish justice
o To ensure domestic tranquility
o To provide for the common defense
o To promote the general welfare
o To secure the blessings of liberty
The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America
begins, “We the People,” thereby establishing that the power of
government comes from the people.
Name
SOL# CE.2d & CE.3b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: Amending the Constitution
Vocabulary
Hook:
1. How many parts are there to the U.S. Constitution?
2. Can the United States Constitution be changed?
3. What would the changes be called?
4. Has the Constitution ever been changed? How many times?
Processing:
List Constitutional Amendments 11-27. Give the title of the Amendment
and the date it was added to the Constitution. Use your textbook.
Name
SOL# CE.2d & CE.3b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: Amending the Constitution
Vocabulary
CE.2d
amendment
a change to the United States
Constitution
CE.2d
ratification
the approval of a change
CE.3b
rights
the things we are entitled to by
law
due process
a set of procedures established
by law and guaranteed by the
constitution to protect legal
rights
CE.3b
CE.3b
CE.3b
CE.3b
petition
a formal request to lawmakers
for government action
absolute
fully allowed
unduly interfere
to excessively hinder
Name
SOL# CE.2d
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: Amending the Constitution
Notes
Hook:
1. The United States Constitution is over 200+ years old. Why do you
think this document has lasted longer than the Articles of
Confederation?
2. When the original Constitution was written, how many original parts
were there to the document?
3. How many changes have been made to the Constitution to date?
4. What are these changes called?
Processing:
Read pages 85 and 86 in your text. Copy and complete the chart on the
Amendment process from page 85 and complete the part Evaluating
Charts.
Name
SOL# CE.2d
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution: Amending the Constitution
Notes
Objective:
I, ____________, will demonstrate knowledge of the
foundations of American constitutional government by:
d) identifying the procedures for amending the Constitution of
Virginia and the Constitution of the United States.
EU: I must understand that:
1. The constitutions of Virginia and the United States can be amended
through processes outlined in the constitutions.
2. The Virginia Constitution has been rewritten several times.
EQ: So my question(s) is:
1. How can the Constitution of the United States be amended?
2. How can the Constitution of Virginia be amended?
EK:
Constitution of the United States
 The amendment process is complex.
 To date, there are 27 amendments to the Constitution of the
United States.
 Amendment process:
– Proposal: action by Congress or convention
– Ratification: by the states
Constitution of Virginia
 Amendment process:
– Proposal: action by General Assembly or convention
-- Ratification: by voters of Virginia
Name
SOL# CE.3b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution:
The 1st Amendment Freedoms
Notes
Hook:
1. According to our Constitution, what are our 5 basic freedoms?
2. Are all of these freedoms absolute? In other words, are there any
limits/restrictions placed on these freedoms? Explain.
3.
Can you really say whatever you want in a crowd? Explain your
answer.
Processing:
Make a collage with clip-art/pictures explaining each of the 5 basic
freedoms.
The 1st
Amendment
Five
Basic
Freedoms
Name:
SOL# CE.3b
Page:
___/___/___
Unit III: Foundations of American Government
The United States Constitution:
The 1st Amendment Freedoms
Notes
Objective:
I,______________, will demonstrate knowledge of citizenship
and the rights, duties, and responsibilities of citizens by:
b) describing the First Amendment freedoms of religion, speech,
press, assembly, and petition, and the rights guaranteed by due
process and equal protection of the laws.
EU: I must understand that:
1. The Constitution of the United States of America establishes and
protects the citizens’ fundamental rights and liberties.
2. Few rights, if any, are considered absolute.
EQ: My question(s) is….
1. What fundamental rights and liberties are guaranteed in the First and
Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States of
America?
EK: I now understand my…
First Amendment freedoms
 Religion:
Government may not establish an official religion, endorse an official
religion, or unduly interfere with the free exercise of religion.
 Speech:
Individuals are free to express their opinions and beliefs.
 Press:
The press has the right to gather and publish information, including that
which criticizes the government.
 Assembly:
Individuals may peacefully gather.
 Petition:
Individuals have the right to make their views known to public officials.
Fourteenth Amendment
Extends the due process protection to actions of the states.