Anatomy of the Constitution Teacher Copy PDF

Teacher’s Guide Anatomy of the Constitution Time Needed: One class period Learning Objectives. Students will be able to: Materials Needed:  explain the structure...

Teacher’s Guide Anatomy of the Constitution Time Needed: One class period Learning Objectives. Students will be able to: Materials Needed:  explain the structure, function, and powers of the Student worksheets U.S. government as established in the Constitution Copy Instructions:  identify the roles of the three branches of Preamble Activity Half Sheet (class set, government divided)  describe the constitutional amendment process Student packet (three pages double-sided;  interpret the intentions of the Preamble of the class set) Constitution. Preamble (Transparency) Whose Job Is It? (Transparency) Foldable Activity (class set) STEP BY STEP 1) ANTICIPATE by asking students where the government gets it’s instructions. How does Congress, the President, or federal judges know what to do? Give students a moment to think, then randomly call on students to share their thoughts. 2) DISTRIBUTE one reading packet to each student. 3) READ through the first two paragraphs on page one with the class. 4) DISPLAY the transparency, Breaking it Down: The Preamble and explain the statement, phrase by phrase. The students should add the annotations to their reading. Also note that people living in the 1700s had different rules about capitalization than we do today. 5) READ the rest of page one, continuing through page three with the class. Explain that you will go into greater detail on the amendment process on the next page. 6) READ the information about the amendment process on page four and take the students through the various paths to the addition of an amendment to the Constitution. 7) DISTRIBUTE the tent foldable activity page and show the class how to fold it correctly. 8) PROJECT the Whose Job Is It ? Active Review Transparency, revealing one at a time. 9) ASK students to show the correct branch on their tent and note the correct answer on the projection. If you see areas of confusion, stop and clarify as needed. 10) ASSIGN the review pages to be completed. Go over answers if needed. 11) CLOSE by asking students to silently recall one purpose of the U.S. government, based on the Preamble. Call on students until all 6 goals discussed in the lesson have been named- without looking at the packet. This lesson plan is part of the Constitution series by iCivics, Inc. a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civic education. For more teaching resources, please visit www.icivics.org/teachers, where you can access the state standards aligned to this lesson plan. ©2012 iCivics, Inc. You may copy, distribute, or transmit this work for noncommercial purposes if you credit iCivics. All other rights reserved.  Anatomy of the Constitution 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. Preamble Transparency Anatomy of the Constitution Name: 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. Preamble Activity Anatomy of the Constitution Name: 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. Preamble Activity Anatomy of the Constitution Name: How Do They Govern? The U.S. Constitution is the document that creates our nation’s government. The contents of the Constitution create the three branches of our government and give directions for how the federal government works. (It does this with a little over 4,500 words covering only four sheets of paper!) Although the Constitution was written over 220 years ago, it still guides our officials in running our The Constitution on display at the country today. It is also the oldest written constitution in the world National Archives in Washington, DC. that is still in use. Introducing… The Preamble Our Constitution is divided into nine parts. The first paragraph P e o ple is called the Preamble. Its job is to introduce the Constitution, t he We explain what the Constitution is meant to do, and describe the purpose of the new government. Creating Congress: Article I Article I is the first and longest part of the Constitution. It creates the legislative branch of our government. Legislative means law-making. This section is the longest because the people who wrote the Constitution believed that a legislative branch is very important in a government that represents the citizens. Members of the legislature, or law-making body, are responsible for turning citizens’ wants and needs into laws. Represent Me! The legislative branch makes our government a representative democracy. In a representative democracy, citizens elect people to represent their needs and concerns in government. Article I creates a legislature called Congress and divides it into two parts: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Article I describes how Congress should be organized, tells what qualifications legislators much have, and says how often Congress should hold elections and meet as a group. It also describes other details of operation that each house of Congress gets to decide for itself. You must be at least 30 years old, been You must be at least 25 years old, been a a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and live live in the state you represent in the state you represent. Number per state depends on population 2 senators per state = 100 total = 435 total (in 2011) the interests of the citizens who live in the interests of the citizens in the entire the district they represent within the state for 6 years per term. state for 2 years per term. The Senate acts as a court during All bills that raise money must start in the impeachments. House of Representatives. A bill must be approved by BOTH houses of Congress before it can go to the President to become a law. Reading p.1 Anatomy of the Constitution Name: The Powers of Congress Article II lists the powers Congress has. Even though Congress is a law-making body, it is not allowed to make laws about anything that’s not on this list:  Collect taxes  Give patents to new inventions  Borrow money and pay debts  Create the lower federal courts  Make rules for how to become a citizen  Punish pirates  Regulate commerce (trade) with other nations,  Declare war and support an army and navy between the states, and with Indian tribes  Make any other laws that are “necessary and  Coin money and punish counterfeiters proper” to carry out the powers in this list.  Establish post offices Creating the President: Article II Article II of the Constitution describes the job of the executive branch. This branch executes, or carries out, laws. The president heads this branch, which also includes the vice president and many departments in charge of carrying out the government’s day-to-day business. Article II describes who qualifies to be the president, what powers the office has, and what happens if a president misbehaves! It also explains the Electoral College, which is the process of how the president is selected. Presidential Powers The overall job of the executive branch is to carry out and enforce laws, but Article II gives the president a list of specific duties:  Act as the commander-in-chief of the armed  Negotiate treaties with other countries forces  Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court Justices  Maintain a cabinet of advisors who run the 14 and federal court judges, and Cabinet members executive departments like the State  Make a State of the Union address to Congress Department and the Treasury  Represent the United States when dealing with  Grant pardons in all federal criminal offenses, foreign countries and reprieves (postpone punishments like executions)  Make sure that laws are carried out (executed) Creating the Courts: Article III Here come the judges! Article III creates the judicial branch. The judicial branch interprets laws to decide what they mean and whether they have been followed in specific cases. Article III creates the Supreme Court and authorizes Congress to create federal courts below the Supreme Court. These are courts that deal with United States laws, not state laws. Article III also gives directions about what kinds of cases the Supreme Court and federal courts can hear. Under Article III, federal judges are appointed, not elected. They stay on the bench until they retire, die, or are The U.S. Supreme Court removed for bad behavior. Article III also guarantees trial by jury for criminal in Washington, DC cases and explains the crime of treason. Reading p.2 Anatomy of the Constitution Name: The States: Article IV States have the power to create and enforce their own laws. Article Four of the Constitution describes how the states should interact with each other.  Each state has to respect the laws and court decisions of the other states.  If a criminal flees from one state to another, the state where the crime was committed can request that the criminal be returned to face charges. This is called extradition.  New states can be admitted to the Union with the authorization of Congress and the president.  All states must have a republican, or representative, type of government. (Sorry, states can’t have kings.) Let’s just Amending the Constitution: Article V make this The Constitution is not set in stone. Article Five describes what one change must be done to amend, or change, the Constitution. You will read more about this process on the next page. Supreme Law of the Land: Article VI Federalism is the idea that the national government shares power with the state governments. But what happens if a state law disagrees with a national or federal law? Article Six states that the laws and treaties of the U.S. government are “the supreme law of the land.” If a state law disagrees with a federal law, federal law wins. This article also requires officials working in the state and federal governments to take an oath to support the Constitution no matter what. George Washington taking the oath of office for President of the U.S.  Ratification: Article VII  Article Seven says the Constitution could not take effect until at  least nine out of the thirteen states approved it. (Back then, there  i ed were only thirteen states.) Each state held its own convention to i  f discuss and vote on the Constitution’s plan for government. But t a Massachusetts getting approval wasn’t easy. Some people thought the seven R articles weren’t enough. After much debate, it was agreed that ten  Maryland amendments would be added to the Constitution. These  South Carolina amendments, called the Bill of Rights, would list specific rights not  New Hampshire already mentioned in the Constitution. This put people’s minds at ease, and the Constitution became the law of the land in March The list of states in order of ratification 1789. The Bill of Rights was added in 1791. of the Constitution. Reading p.3  Anatomy of the Constitution Name: Amending the Constitution Article V describes how an amendment is added to the Constitution. There are only two steps necessary. First, the amendment needs to be proposed, or introduced. Then it needs to be ratified, or passed. Sound easy? Well, it isn’t! Hundreds of amendment proposals are introduced in Congress each year. Only 33 have ever received enough votes to actually be proposed. Of those, 27 have become amendments to the Constitution. The process to add an amendment can take years. There are four different ways an amendment can be added to the Constitution. But in all cases, an amendment has to be approved at the national level and the state level. Step 1: Propose Step 2: Ratify Either Congress or the States can propose an Regardless of how the amendment is proposed, amendment to the Constitution. Both Houses it must be ratified by the states. Three-fourths of Congress must propose the amendment with of the state legislatures must approve of the a two-thirds vote. This is how all current amendment proposed by Congress. The amendments have been offered. The other alternative is to have three-fourths of the states option is to have two-thirds of the state approve the amendment by holding conventions legislatures call on Congress to hold a to vote on it. The state convention method has Constitutional Convention. So far, no only been used once, to approve the 21st amendments have been proposed in this way. Amendment repealing Prohibition in 1933. Step 1: Step 2: P R O P O S E R A T I F Y (Most Common) Three-fourths (3/4) A vote two-thirds (2/3) of of state legislatures both houses of Congress ratify the proposes an amendment. amendment. The new amendment is OR OR added to the Constitution! Two-thirds (2/3) of state (Least Common) legislatures ask for a meeting to propose an amendment. This Three-fourths (3/4) of meeting is called a convention. special state conventions The amendment is proposed at ratify the amendment. the national convention. Reading p.4 Anatomy of the Constitution Name: A. Vocabulary. Match the term with the correct definitions from the lesson. ___ 1. ratify A) Introduce a new amendment ___ 2. execute B) Carry out a law ___ 3. federalism C) A representative form of government ___ 4. republican D) Approve or pass an amendment ___ 5. propose E) System where the national government shares power with state governments B. Multiple Choice. Use what you have learned in this lesson to answer the following questions. ___ 6. How many senators are in the U.S. Senate? ___ 8. What was added to the Constitution that a. 50 listed rights not already in the Constitution? b. 435 a. The 14th Amendment c. 100 b. The approval of all 13 states d. It depends on the population. c. The Bill of Rights d. The Necessary and Proper Clause ___ 7. What does the Constitution say is the ___ 9. What is the term for members of the House ‘supreme law of the land’? of Representatives ? a. The Bill of Rights a. 2 years b. State laws b. 4 years c. The amendments c. 6 years d. U.S. or federal laws d. Life C. Separate Those Powers! Draw a line D. Article Match-Up. Draw a line connecting each connecting each branch to the powers it has. Constitutional article with the subject that it covers. Articles 13. Discusses how states should 1-3 interact with each other. 10. We write the bills that become laws. Article The Judicial 4 14. Supreme Law of the Land Branch The s 15. Creates the three branches of 11. We make sure the m ent end the U.S. government laws are carried Am out and enforced. The Legislative Article 16. Additions to the Constitution Branch 6 Article 17. How to amend the Constitution 12. We hear cases 7 about the laws and The Executive decide what the Article 18. How to Ratify the Constitution Branch laws mean. 5 Worksheet p.1 Anatomy of the Constitution Name: E. Table of Contents. Complete the Constitutional Table of Contents by filling in the missing pieces with words from the lesson. Use the word bank below if you need help. Preamble What does the Constitution do? What is the ______________ of the government? Article I How does the _______________ branch create laws? What powers do the states have? Article II How does the _________________ branch execute laws? Article III How does the ________________ branch interpret the laws? Article IV How should the ______________ get along with each other? Article V How can the Constitution be _________________, or changed? Article VI How does ________________ work? Which law is supreme? Article VII What ___________ have to be taken to make the Constitution the law of the land? Amendments What changes have been made to the _______________________? F. Who Said It? First, match the quote about working in government to the correct branch. Then name the article that describes the powers of this branch. Floor debate [on a bill] is an exhilarating The presidency has many problems, We apply laws to facts. We do experience and important duty. but boredom is the least of them. not apply feelings to facts. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D– MI Richard Nixon, R-CA Justice Sonia Sotomayor Article Article Article _____ _____ _____ The Executive Branch The Judicial Branch The Legislative Branch Worksheet p.2  Directions: Fold on the dotted lines to make a 3-sided tent with the text facing out: e tiv Tuck the extra flap to the inside. cu Exe (Fold here) (Fold here) E xecutive Branch L egislative Branch J (Fold here) udicial Branch Active Review Foldable Anatomy of the Constitution Name: Whose Job Is It? E=Executive L= Legislative J= Judicial (For each description show the correct side of your tent.) ___ 1. Prints money ___ 2. Enforces the laws ___ 3. Decides what a law means ___ 4. Declares war ___ 5. Includes the president, vice president, and the cabinet ___ 6. Divided into the House and Senate ___ 7. Punishes pirates! ___ 8. Makes treaties with other countries ___ 9. Can declare laws unconstitutional ___ 10. Selected by the Electoral College ___ 11. Selected by popular vote ___ 12. Appoints Supreme Court Justices, federal judges, ambassadors and cabinet members ___ 13. Approves presidential appointments ___ 14. Makes a State of the Union address each year ___ 15. Collect taxes Active Review Transparency Anatomy of the Constitution **TEACHER GUIDE** Whose Job Is It? E=Executive L= Legislative J= Judicial (For each description show the correct side of your tent.) L 1. Prints money ___ E 2. Enforces the laws ___ J 3. Decides what a law means ___ L 4. Declares war ___ E 5. Includes the president, vice president, and the cabinet ___ L 6. Divided into the House and Senate ___ L 7. Punishes pirates! ___ E 8. Makes treaties with other countries ___ J 9. Can declare laws unconstitutional ___ E 10. Selected by the Electoral College ___ L 11. Selected by popular vote ___ E 12. Appoints Supreme Court Justices, federal judges, ___ ambassadors and cabinet members L 13. Approves presidential appointments ___ E 14. Makes a State of the Union address each year ___ L 15. Collect taxes ___ Active Review Anatomy of the Constitution **TEACHER GUIDE** A. Vocabulary. Match the term with the correct definitions from the lesson. _D_ 1. ratify A) Introduce a new amendment _B_ 2. execute B) Carry out a law _E_ 3. federalism C) A representative form of government _C_ 4. republican D) Approve or pass an amendment _A_ 5. propose E) System where the national government shares power with state governments B. Multiple Choice. Use what you have learned in this lesson to answer the following questions. _C_ 6. How many senators are in the U.S. Senate? _C_ 8. What was added to the Constitution that a. 50 listed rights not already in the Constitution? b. 435 a. The 14th Amendment c. 100 b. The approval of all 13 states d. It depends on the population. c. The Bill of Rights d. The Necessary and Proper Clause _D_ 7. What does the Constitution say is the _A_ 9. What is the term for members of the House ‘supreme law of the land’? of Representatives ? a. The Bill of Rights a. 2 years b. State laws b. 4 years c. The amendments c. 6 years d. U.S. or federal laws d. Life C. Separate Those Powers! Draw a line D. Article Match-Up. Draw a line connecting each connecting each branch to the powers it has. Constitutional article with the subject that it covers. Articles 13. Discusses how states should 1-3 interact with each other. 10. We write the bills that become laws. Article 14. Supreme Law of the Land The Judicial 4 Branch The 15. Creates the three branches of nts 11. We make sure the me the U.S. government end laws are carried Am out and enforced. The Legislative Article 16. Additions to the Constitution Branch 6 12. We hear cases 17. How to amend the Constitution Article about the laws and 7 decide what the laws mean. 18. How to Ratify the Constitution The Executive Article Branch 5 Worksheet p.1 Anatomy of the Constitution **TEACHER GUIDE** E. Table of Contents. Complete the Constitutional Table of Contents by filling in the missing pieces with words from the lesson. Use the word bank below if you need help. Preamble What does the Constitution do? What is the PURPOSE of the government? Article I How does the LEGISLATIVE branch create laws? What powers do the states have? Article II How does the EXECUTIVE branch execute laws? Article III How does the JUDICIAL branch interpret the laws? Article IV How should the STATES get along with each other? Article V How can the Constitution be AMENDED, or changed? Article VI How does FEDERALISM work? Which law is supreme? Article VII What STEPS have to be taken to make the Constitution the law of the land? Amendments What changes have been made to the CONSTITUTION? F. Who Said It? First, match the quote about working in government to the correct branch. Then name the article that describes the powers of this branch. Floor debate [on a bill] is an exhilarating The presidency has many problems, We apply laws to facts. We do experience and important duty. but boredom is the least of them. not apply feelings to facts. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, D– MI Richard Nixon, R-CA Justice Sonia Sotomayor Article Article Article _____ _____ _____ The Executive Branch The Judicial Branch The Legislative Branch Worksheet p.2