Bell Work

Bell Work “These principles form the bright

constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.”

Who do you think wrote this? What do you think they are talking about in

each phrase? Break it down and have thoughts ready!

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Chapter 3 Outline

Tues. Bell Work Get Book: Have Jobs and policies out

and ready for checking Chapter 3: The Constitution

Six basic principles (1day) Formal Amendment (1day) Constitutional Change by other means

(1day)

Section 1

What are the important elements of the constitution?

What are the six basic principles of the constitution

Outline of the constitution

The constitution sets out the basic principles upon which government in the U.S. was built

The Constitution is a fairly brief document

Organized into eight sections The Preamble and seven articles Original document followed by 27

amendments

Articles of the Constitution (760-75)

Section Subject Summary/Facts

Preamble

Purpose of Const.

Article I Leg. Branch

Article II Executive Branch

Article III Judicial Branch

Article IV

Article V

Article VI

Article VII

Ratifying the Const.

Summary/Facts for Articles

Article #1-3 (Branch powers) Establishes the power granted to the 3

branches Article 4 (State Relations)

Relationships among the states and w/the national government: states will accept others laws and citizens will treat each other equally across state lines

Summary/Facts for Articles

Article 5 (Amending) Outlines the method for changing or amending

the constitution Article 6 (Supreme law)

Talks about assuming all prior debts (old). It sets the Constitution and all laws and treaties of the U.S. to be the supreme law of the country. Requires all officers of the U.S. and of the states to swear an oath of allegiance

Article 7 (Ratification) Outlines the method for ratifying the

Constitution

Basic Principles

The Constitution is built on Six basic principles

These principles have been an enduring and flexible guide for governing our nation for over 200 years

Basic Principles Popular Sovereignty

“We the people” Asserts the “people” are the source of any and all

government power. Idea that government can exist only with the consent of

the governed Limited Government

Government has only as much authority as the people give it.

Government is restricted in what it can do Constitution is made up of specific limitations on

government power Each individual has rights the government cannot take

away

Basic Principles

Separation of Powers Three branches of government are

independent and coequal Intended to prevent misuse of power by one

branch Checks and Balances

Allows branches to check or restrain the actions of one another

Each branch has built in authority over another.

Prevents tyranny (misuse) by one branch Know and understand concept on pg.68

Basic Principles

Judicial Review Court has power to determine constitutionality

of governments actions Holds government responsible to the

constitution Federalism

Powers divided b.t. central government and smaller local governments.

Ensures Central government is powerful enough to be effective, but not enough to overpower the states/citizens.

Lesson Closing

Due tomorrow at beginning of class This will either be HW or Class-work Make either a cartoon/sketch, or web

diagram showing one of the basic principles of the constitution

Game outline Class divided into 6 teams (3 for per.4) Each team gets one of the 6 basic principles

Your team needs to Write/Draw three clues for that principle. (Written clues have 2 word max)

These clues are either in “password” or “charades” form. I.E. 1 word clues: dog…..sound…=bark

3 Clues will be assigned 1, 2, or 3 pts for difficulty. Hand in completed index cards.

Game: Each player from a team will come up and draw from the pile of

clues If that player cannot place the clue under the correct Principle, then

they may ask a teammate to come up and help for ½ the points If a player yells or attempts to contact another player for help

during any part of the game, that attempt is done and the card will be placed back in the stack.

Team w/ most points at end wins automatic 100% grade and treat on Monday

This is a project grade in the grade-book and your participation, behavior, or lack of participation will all be taken into account!

Bell Work.

L-J #1 Bell Work

Read Face the Issues on pg. 71 Answer ?s: TPS

Schedule What are the different ways to formally

amend the constitution How many times has it been changed? What is the bill of rights

Face the Issues

Why do supporters of gun rights point to early English law to support their arguments? To show that the 2nd amendment has roots in

the 1600s, and that the right to bear arms to defend oneself was part of English law the constitution was based on.

Is public safety a sound reason for limiting constitutional rights? Why/why not? Public safety could be sound reasoning to limit

the 2nd amendment b/c provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Amending the Constitution

The constitution provides for its own amendment; a changing in its written words.

Article V: Read Article V on pg. 770 Sets out two methods for the proposal of

an amendment and two methods for the ratification of amendments

Creating four possible methods of formal amendment to the constitution

Amendment Process

1. Proposed by 2/3 vote in each house of congress and ratified (formally approved) by ¾ of state legislatures (26/27 amendments)

2. Proposed by 2/3 vote in congress and ratified by ¾ of state legislatures in a convention called for that purpose

1. 21st amendment

Amendment Process

3. Amendment proposed by national convention called by congress at request of 2/3 of state legislatures, then ratified by ¾ of state legislatures (never done)

4. Proposed by national convention at request of 2/3 of state legislatures, then ratified by conventions in ¾ of states

1. Method in which Constitution was adopted

Amendment Process

Look at Diagram on pg. 75 and answer question

How does the formal amendment process illustrate federalism? Both the national and state

governments are involved in the process.

Bill of Rights

1st ten amendments to the constitution

Set out constitutional guarantees of various freedoms Belief and expression Freedom and security of the person Fair and equal treatment before the law

Read The later amendments and outline some of the major amendments.

Lesson Closing

L-J#2 Work on Worksheets

Bell Work Bell Work: Look up and be able to answer

these questions with your table partner (s) What are the three broad freedoms protected by

the bill of rights? Belief and expression Freedom and security of the person Fair and equal treatment before the law

How many amendments to the constitution? What are 1st 10?

27: first ten are bill of rights Describe 2 of 4 methods of formal amendment

Proposed 2/3 house, ratified by ¾ of states Proposed 2/3 of house, ratified by conventions in ¾

states Proposed @ nat’l convention 2/3, ratified by ¾ states Proposed @ nat’l convention 2/3, ratified by

conventions in ¾ states

3.3 Key Idea

The 27 formal amendments have not been as important a part in shaping, and keeping up to date, the constitution as many think. Realistically informal changes that have taken place as a result of the day-day and year-year activities of the government are most important!!

3.3 Lecture Activity

Becoming Experts!!

You will separate into assigned groups. Each group will have a recorder, leader, and presenter (or 2) that need to be identified early in the group.

Once you have your sheet completed come record it on the board

Group One Basic Legislation

Group Two Executive and Judicial Actions

Group Three Party Practices and Customs

Legislation

Important in two ways Has passed a number of laws that

helped spell out several of the constitutions brief provisions

Examples include est. lower courts, est. the many executive offices, and est. succession of presidency is the v.p. died as well

Has added to the constitution by passing many laws over areas the constitution granted it power.

Especially foreign/interstate commerce.

Executive and Judicial

Executive offices effect Use of implied powers or by “scooting” by with

outside powers granted them. Power to declare war only to congress in Constitution;

but president is Commander in Chief and he can then use the armed forces w/out declaration by congress

Use of executive agreements: used instead of treaties to avoid needing senate approval

Judicial Have the ability to interpret and apply the

constitution to laws. Can declare laws unconstitutional Established Supreme court as superior authority

Party Practices/Customs

Practices Everything in government is ran through some

sort of party lines National conventions (never outlined in

constitution) are now the ways presidents are nominated

Electoral college is now the final approval for the president; far from what it was initially intended.

Customs Introduction of the cabinet is the biggest

example of how they have changed the constitution

Senatorial Courtesy is another example

Lesson Closing

Start on study guide L-J #3