The Constitution
Unit
Pre-test
• To see what you already know about the Constitution we will take a
Pre-test.
• DO NOT WORRY
• This is not a part of your grade, it is just to see what you know
Preamble &
Articles 1-3
EQ
• How does the constitution help separate the powers of the
government and keep the powers of each branch of government in
check and balanced?
7 Principles of the Constitution
• Popular Sovereignty- a government in which the people rule
(government by the people)
• Republicanism- people exercise their power by voting for people into
office to represent them in Congress and create laws
• Federalism- the separation of powers between the state and national
governments
• Separation of Powers- the idea behind the decision to divide the
government into 3 different branches
• Checks and Balances- this system gives each branch of government
the ability to limit the actions of the other 2 branches of government
• Limited Government- no matter who you are, you must obey the law
• Individual Rights- these are protected by the Bill of Rights
Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare,
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
• Form a more perfect Union- create a nation in which states work
together
• Establish justice- make laws and set up courts
• Insure domestic tranquility- peace within the country
• Provide for the common defense- protect the country from attack
• Promote the general welfare- contribute to the happiness and well
being of all people
• Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity- make
sure the future citizens remain free
Vocabulary- pages 248-265 USE THE BOOK!!!!!!
Electors
Felonies
Convene
Enumeration
Appropriation
Misdemeanors
Impeachment
Militia
Inferior courts
Pro tempore
Bill of attainder
Appellate
Indictment
Ex post facto law
Immunities
Quorum
Tender
Suffrage
Revenue
Natural-born citizen
Ratification
Naturalization
Affirmation
Unanimous Consent
Tribunals
Reprieves
Group Activity
• Break into 3 groups ( Legislative, Judicial, Executive)
• You will break into 3 smaller groups within that group
• As a group you will work on creating a poster that represents the
powers and limits of the 3 branches of Government, as well as
requirements for each branch of government. Within each group 1
group will cover the powers, 1 will cover the way they keep the other
2 branches of government in check, and 1 will cover requirements to
be in each branch of government
• Make sure that you have written down the powers and limits of each
branch ( what they can and cannot do)
• You will be given a piece of poster paper, markers, colored pencils,
and a ruler
• Draw a person that represents your branch of government
Questions
• Why would the founders of the Constitution separate the powers of
government into 3 different groups?
• What does the term Checks and Balances mean?
• How does each branch of government keep the other two in check?
• List 3 powers for each of the 3 branches of the government
(Executive, Judicial, and Legislative)
• How does the Legislative branch keep the Judicial and Executive
branches of government in check? How does the Judicial Branch
balance the other 2 branches and how does the Executive Branch
balance the other 2 branches of government?
Articles 4-7
EQs
• In what ways should the “United States” cooperate?(4)
• What does it take to change the Constitution?(5)
• What is the Supremacy Clause mean?
• Using Articles 4-6 of the Constitution you will answer in groups 1 of
the 3 essential questions for this activity.
• Write 3-4 statements from the article that answers the question.
• Once everyone is finished you will get come together and split into a
jigsaw and fill in the information you do not have.
Ratification
• 9 of the 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution to establish it in
the country.
• All members present were in unanimous consent of the Constitution.
Bill of Rights
EQ
• In what ways do the first 10 amendments protect our most basic civil
rights? Should they be written in the Constitution or do you feel that
these rights are so basic that they do not need to be written down?
Vocabulary for the Amendments- pgs. 266Abridging
Equity
Quartered
Servitude
Due process of law
Naturalized
Compulsory process
Insurrection
Counsel
Bounties
Common law
Inoperative
Bail
Primary
Activity
• For this activity you will need a piece of paper, markers, colored
pencils, and your creative process of your mind.
• On your piece of paper create 10 separate squares
• In each square you will draw a picture that represents amendments 110
• At the bottom of the picture you will create a 5-8 word phrase that
helps you remember what rights are protected in each amendment
Discussion
• Are there any of the first 10 amendments that you feel should not be
in the Bill of Rights? Why?
• Of the first 10 amendments which one is the most important to you?
Why?
• Why do you think that the Founding Fathers thought these rights
were necessary to have put in the Constitution?
Case Study for
st
nd
1 and 2 Amendments
EQ
• In the following case studies was the outcomes
constitutional or did they violate the constitution? Should
there have been a different ruling in the cases or if it is a
current ruling what should happen?
1st Amendment
• Each table will have 2 case studies for the 1st Amendment
• As a table you will read through the article together, discuss the
article at your table, and then fill out the worksheet for the table
• As a table your answer should reflect the thoughts of the majority of
the table
• Repeat for the 2nd article
nd
2
Amendment
• Each table will have 2 case studies for the 2nd Amendment
• As a table you will read through the article together, discuss the
article at your table, and then fill out the worksheet for the table
• As a table your answer should reflect the thoughts of the majority of
the table
• Repeat for the 2nd article
Reflection
• In your notes write a 1 page reflection on what you have learned from
the case studies on the 1st and 2nd Amendments.
• As you write your reflection think your thoughts on whether or not
your cases were constitutional or not, and if not why they were not
constitutional.
• Why is interpretation of laws important?
Amendments 11-27
EQ
• Why did we add amendments 11-27 to the constitution? Were they
really needed?
Pictionary
• We will play a game of Pictionary boys against girls.
• Read through amendments 11-27
• Pages 269-277
• Write a short one line statement for each amendment in your notes
• As you read think about how you would draw each amendment and
did the amendments really to be added to the Constitution.
Rules
• You cannot spell out the amendment or number of the amendment
• You cannot talk as the drawer
• If the group who is drawing gets their guess wrong the opposing
group gets a guess.
• You will be given 2 minutes to draw and guess
• The winning group will get 5 extra credit points on the test
Writing Assignment
• On 1 page discuss which of 3 of the amendments (11-27) are the
most important to you and why.
Creating and Passing
a Bill
EQ
• Is the way we pass a bill the best possible way to pass a bill? Or is
there a better way to create, and pass a bill to make it a law?
Activity
• Each table will represent committees in the House of Representatives
• As a committee you will create a bill that is well thought out and
written out.
• You can create a bill about any topic but here are some suggestions;
immigration, same sex marriage, driving laws, education laws,
legalizing Marijuana, School lunches, gun restrictions/rights, food in
class, cell phones in class, etc.
Your Committee
• Secretary- records all things discussed by the committee
• Committee Leader- someone to keep the group on track with the
creation of the bill
• Committee Speaker- this person will present the bill to the HOR.
• Committee Members- everyone at the table is a member, and is
expected to be actively engaged in discussing the bill and
requirements of the bill
• Each member of your committee represents a state
Requirements
• Each person in the committee (table) has to present an idea for a bill
• As a committee vote and decide which idea you want to pursue and
create
• Be very thorough in writing your bill
• YOU WILL HAVE 2 DAYS TO CREATE AND WRITE YOUR BILL
Things to Consider
• Consider all possible consequences of the law
• Who will enforce this law
• How much will it cost
• If it costs money where will the money come from
• What are the benefits of the law
• Are there any negative outcomes to the law
Present your Bill
• Mr. Dexter will be the Speaker of the House
• We need a secretary to take notes on the proceedings
• As the speaker for your committee you will be given 3-5 minutes to present
you bill
• The speaker can use a 3x5 notecard for notes on their bill
• There will be a 5 minutes period for members of the HOR to come forward
and give their opinions on the bill
• After that 5 minute period the house will vote on the bill
• After the debates and discussion are done the Speaker of House will
ask for a vote
• If there is a majority vote it passes and will move on to the Senate
• AT the senate we will take one person from each table to represent
the Senate
• Notice the difference in size
• The senate will have 5 minutes to discuss the bill and vote on it. If it
passes by a majority it will go to the President (Mr. Dexter) if it
doesn’t pass it will go back to the HOR with the objections to the bill
• If it passes both houses of Congress the President will go over each
bill and either sign it, veto it, or even pocket veto the bill.
• What have we learned about the process of passing a bill?
EQ
• Is the way we pass a bill the best possible way to pass a bill? Or is
there a better way to create, and pass a bill to make it a law?
Practice Civics Test
• We will take a practice Civics test
• The purpose of the test is not to be graded but to show you what the
test will be like if you have to take it to graduate
• DO NOT JUST GUESS!!! Take it seriously.