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from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal UclickSupreme Law

Our Constitution    The U.S. Constitution is a set of basic laws organizing, granting and limiting the powers of our government. It is something that all American citizens share.    The Constitution is on display at the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. An archives is a place where important documents are preserved.    This week, we celebrate Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, with an issue about this historic document.Constitution fact-a-roonies    • It was created in Philadelphia …    • during the summer of 1787 …    • in secret …    • in about 100 days.    • It has 39 signers …    • and is made up of a preamble, seven articles and 27 amendments, which were added later.    • The original Constitution is handwritten on four parchment pages. Each page is about 29 inches high and 24 inches wide.    • Our Constitution is the longest-lasting written national constitution in the world.

Father of the Constitution    James Madison was a smart student of government and a great statesman. He was a friend of Thomas Jefferson.    Madison was only 36 when the Constitution was written. He influenced what went on at the Constitutional Convention more than any other delegate.    He wrote a plan for the new government, the Virginia Plan. Many of his ideas were adopted. He also took many notes and wrote up detailed reports. His records are our best sources of what went on. These were

not published until after his death.    Madison worked hard for 

ratification. He later served as a Virginia congressman and proposed the first 10 amendments (the Bill of Rights).    After serving as secretary of state 

under Thomas Jefferson, he was elected as our fourth president. He lived longer than any other signer. He died at the age of 85 in 1836.

Our country’s most valuable charters, or documents, are displayed in special cases under protective glass. Visiting the National Archives, you can see:1. The Declaration of Independence2. All four pages of the Constitution3. The Bill of Rights

James Madison

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Big Ideas in Government

Words that remind us of the Constitution are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: AMENDMENT, CONSTITUTION, CONVENTION, DELEGATES, ENUMERATED, FEDERALISM, IDEAS, IMPLIED, LAW, MADISON, PARCHMENT, PHILADELPHIA, SEPARATION, SIGN, SUPREME, WASHINGTON.

Constitution try ’n’find

It’s the supreme law of the land!

W A I H P L E D A L I H P L T N S M S I L A R E D E F J A N O U D E I L P M I D E A S W E S P B G N O I T A R A P E S M I R V M Q D E L E G A T E S H D E T A R E M U N E Z C L I C A M R C O N V E N T I O N G R M E U W A S H I N G T O N N A X O N O I T U T I T S N O C P

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Basset Brown

the news

Hound’s

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    The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.On the Web:    • 1.usa.gov/1552ImF    • archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.htmlAt the library:    • “Our Constitution Rocks” by Juliette Turner    • “The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the U.S. Constitution” by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Michael McCurdy

    Inside the Constitution are several big ideas:    • Separation of powers: The delegates feared that giving too much power to any person or group could be dangerous. So they created three branches, or parts, of government: executive, legislative and judicial.    • Checks and balances: This idea limits the power of each government branch. No single branch can overpower the others. Often, each branch needs the help of the others to do its job.    • Enumerated (e-NOOM-er-ate-ed) powers: the listed powers of government.    • Implied powers: the powers that are not listed but suggested.    • Federalism: the idea that our government divides powers between the national government and the state governments.

The Constitution includes:    • A preamble (an introduction)    • Seven articles (sections), covering:    • Article I: The Congress (legislative branch).

    • The signatures of 39 delegates.

    • Article II: The president (executive branch).

    • Article III: The judges and national courts (judicial branch).

    • Article IV: How states relate to each other and the national government.

    • Article VI: The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

    • Article V: How the Constitution can be amended, or changed.

    • Article VII: Ratification, or approval.

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Rookie Cookie’s RecipeEasy Banana Pancakes

You’ll need:• 2 ripe bananas• 1/2 cup cottage cheese• 1/2 cup rolled oats• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract• 2 eggsWhat to do:1.  Place all ingredients in a small blender. Process until smooth.2. Heat skillet and coat with cooking spray.3.  Pour batter in heated skillet and cook as pancakes, flipping 

when edges bubble.4. Serve with syrup or fresh fruit. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.

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Meet Brandon T. Jackson    Brandon T. Jackson stars as Grover in the movie “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.” He has acted in several other movies and TV shows.    Brandon is a stand-up comic, or someone who performs comedy in front of live audiences. He began performing at his parents’ church during talent shows and youth nights. By age 14, he was performing on stage elsewhere in the community.

    He worked as an intern, or person being trained, at a Detroit radio station. He later became guest host of a radio show.    Brandon, 29, grew up in Detroit with seven siblings. He now lives in Los Angeles.

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Bill: Why did the balloon burst?Bob: Because it saw a lolly-pop!

Barb: What do balloons like to drink?Beth: Soda pop!

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Barr:  What is a balloon’s least favorite music?

Bart: Pop songs!

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and the gang are visiting the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives. See if you can find:  • ice cream cone• ring  • letter D  • arrow  • fish• mushroom  • number 3  • eyeglasses  • word MINI• ladder  • letter J  • mug  • book• heart  • peanut  • letter E  • fishhook

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Supersport: Alex MorganHeight: 5-7 Birthdate: 7-2-89Hometown: Diamond Bar, Calif.     No matter what she does, people watch Alex Morgan. She plays soccer like a magician. Since taking up the sport as a teenager, she has outrun, outkicked and outplayed hundreds of opponents.    In 2012, the relentless forward led the U.S. National 

Team with 28 points and 21 assists, won an Olympic gold medal and was America’s female soccer Player of the Year. Now she’s sparkling for Portland in the National Women’s Soccer League.    Morgan, a college All-American at the University of California, Berkeley, is very popular, with a monster following on Twitter. She enjoys wakeboarding, snowboarding and tennis.    Morgan is also writing a series of books she hopes will inspire middle-school kids. Her goals in life include more than scoring goals!

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Amendments

The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

Look through your newspaper for items about Constitution Week.Next week, Mini Page readers will enjoy some famous and familiar quotes from William Shakespeare.

Our Constitution is not perfect. It has been amended, or changed. Twenty-seven amendments have been added. The first 10 are called the Bill of Rights (1791).

1st: freedom of religion

freedom of speech

freedom of assembly and petition.

3rd: quartering of soldiers limited.

4th: searches and seizures regulated.

5th: rights to due process of law, including protection against self-incrimination.

2nd: right to bear arms.

8th: unfair bail, fines and punishment forbidden.

9th: citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution.

10th: powers not listed reserved to the states or the people.

11th: rules for lawsuits against states (1795).

7th: right to a trial by jury.

13th: slavery abolished (1865).

14th: rights of citizenship, due process and equal protection under the law (1868).

15th: voting rights for former slaves (1870).

16th: federal income taxes authorized (1913).

12th: new way of selecting the president and vice president  (1804).

18th: sale of alcohol banned (1919).

19th: women gained right to vote (1920).

20th: dates of the presidential and congressional terms set (1933).

21st: 18th Amendment repealed (1933).

17th: U.S. senators to be elected by the people (1913).

24th: no poll taxes in federal elections (1964).

25th: presidential succession and disability (1967).

22nd: president limited to two terms (1951).

freedom of the press

6th: rights of a person accused of a crime, including the right to be represented by a lawyer.

23rd: people in District of Columbia given right to vote for president (1961).

26th: voting age lowered to 18 (1971).

27th: congressional salaries regulated (1992).