The Constitution

Basic law of the United StatesProvides a framework for governmentSymbol of American ideals and beliefsThis is where the goals of the American government are included in the Constitution

The PreambleThe introduction to the ConstitutionIdentifies ideas that the government stands forStates the purpose of the ConstitutionExpresses the idea that the people of the United States have the right to govern themselves

Six Goals to the Preamble

To form a more perfect union (set up a stronger government)Establish justice (improve the court system)Ensure domestic tranquility (have peace in all States)

Provide for the common defense (protect the country from its enemies)Promote the general welfare (have good living conditions)Secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (have freedom for all and future Americans)

Group Activity

You will be split into six groups and each group will have to answer the questions given to them.

AssignmentUsing the Preamble, you will be looking at some situations.All of these are things that the government does.You are going to be classifying the situations according to which purpose of government, listed in the Preamble, the action described helps to achieve.You will classify them using the following chart

The Preamble

In order to form a more perfect

unionEstablish Justice

Ensure domestic

tranquility

Provide for common defense

Promote general welfare

Secure blessings of liberty

Here are the situations Fix those

Potholes Watch Out for

Those Burglars! Windmills on

Every Home? Everything Has a

Price! Care for Soldiers Fighting

Terrorism Statue of Liberty

Reopens!

Help Is on its Way! Pressure on

Students to Make the Grade!

Still More Tests! Searching for a

Cure. Riot in the Streets! That’s Not Fair! Keeping the Skies

Safe

The Preamble

In order to form a more perfect

unionEstablish Justice

Ensure domestic

tranquility

Provide for common defense

Promote general welfare

Secure blessings of liberty

Here are the situations again

Fix those Potholes Watch Out for Those

Burglars! Windmills on Every

Home? Everything Has a

Price! Care for Soldiers Fighting Terrorism Statue of Liberty

Reopens!

Help Is on its Way! Pressure on Students

to Make the Grade! Still More Tests! Searching for a Cure. Riot in the Streets! That’s Not Fair! Keeping the Skies Safe

The Preamble

In order to form a more perfect

unionEstablish Justice

Ensure domestic

tranquility

Provide for common defense

Promote general welfare

Secure blessings of liberty

Windmills on Every home

Everything has a price

That’s not fair

Watch out for burglars

Riot in the streets

Keeping the skies safe

Care for Soldiers

Fighting terrorism

Fix those Potholes

Help is on the way

Searching for a cure

Statue of Liberty reopens

Pressure on students to make the

grade

Still more test