Unit 5 - More Perfect Union
This unit covers the governmental system that was established by the United States Constitution. We will be looking at the actual document in class and be exploring how our government works. We will study the Articles that makeup the Constitution, as well as the amendments, or changes, to the Constitution - especially the 1st 10 that are known as the Bill of Rights.
Monday-Tuesday Question Writing Assignment
Monday 10-21-13 In Class ActivityActual pictures of the Constitution on the website of the National Archives - http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html
Principles of the ConstitutionBackground InformationA principle is “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.” (Oxford American Dictionary) The Constitution of the United States was written to outline the shape of a new nation. It was ratified when the rights of the people were explicitly protected with the addendum of the Bill of Rights. The Constitution placed restraints on the powers of the central government by dividing the government into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) each with the responsibility of limiting the powers of the other branches, creating a system of checks and balances.
By dividing the powers of government among the state and national governments, federalism identifies specific powers reserved for the national government and implied powers reserved for the states, as well as concurrent powers that reside in both levels of government. Popular sovereignty insures that the power of chosen representatives in the Senate and House of Representative serve the will of the people. |
Homework10-22 : How does the term "popular sovereignty" apply to the Legislative Branch?
10-29 : Summarize Articles 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Constitution. Extra Information/VideosThe following videos are found on Youtube and are part of the School House Rocks series from I believe the 1970's (before I was born!). They are very informational and we will be watching some of them in class.
The Preamble Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EfnNUt_nwY The Three Branches Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5M50xBz1cU How a Bill becomes Law Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag Electoral College Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyIFqf3XH24 Key VocabularyLimited government – the Constitution and laws define the limits of those in power so they cannot take advantage of their elected, appointed, or inherited positions. Everyone, including all authority figures, must obey the laws (rule of law). Government is restricted in what it may do.
Republicanism – a philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people, government is based on the consent of the governed Checks and balances – system that does not allow any one branch of the government to have too much power. Example: The President can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override the veto. The Senate confirms major appointments made by the President, and the courts may declare acts passed by Congress as unconstitutional. Federalism – the distribution of power between a federal government and the states within a union. In the Constitution, certain powers are delegated to only states, others only the federal government and others are shared powers. Separation of powers – The branches included the legislative branch know as "Congress" made up of a "House of Representatives" and a "Senate," the executive branch known as the "President," and the judicial branch known as the "Supreme Court." The powers of the legislative branch are outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. The President would lead the executive branch, which carried out the laws and ensured their just application. These powers are outlined in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The judicial branch, consisting of all courts of the United States including the highest court, the Supreme Court, would interpret and apply the laws, ensuring that they are just. Its powers are outlined in Article III. Judicial Review - The ability of the Supreme Court to review a law brought before it in a case and determine its 'constitutionality' - whether it is in line with the Constitution or not. Popular sovereignty – concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government Individual rights - Many opposed the Constitution in 1787 because they believed it did not offer adequate protection of individual rights. The Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791, was created to correct this. The individual rights protected in the Bill of Rights include economic rights related to property, political rights related to freedom of speech and press, and personal rights related to bearing arms and maintaining private residences. |
Assignment
Rank the 6 principles of government that we studied this week in order from most important (#1) to least important (#6) - in your opinion. Then, in 3 to 5 sentences, explain the reasoning behind your ranking of the principles.
The principles are:
-Separation of Powers -Checks and Balances -Popular Sovereignty -Judicial Review -Federalism -Limited Government
The principles are:
-Separation of Powers -Checks and Balances -Popular Sovereignty -Judicial Review -Federalism -Limited Government
Lesson 2 - The Constitution
This lesson will take us through the Preamble, 7 Articles of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and Amendments. I will have, as they are completed in class, the answer keys to the notes that we have taken. This is very important to helping you with the website project that you are also doing.
constitution_breakdown_-_table_of_contents.docx | |
File Size: | 21 kb |
File Type: | docx |
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