The Constitution

The constitution would not have passed had the Federalists not protected individual liberties (The Bill of Rights)

Bill of Limits

How to alter the Constitution

The US Constitution is only 7,000 words, shorter than all state constitutions except for Vermont.

Constitution written as a framework

Article V outlines the ways in which amendments are proposed and ratified

How to alter the Constitution

Article V outlines the ways in which amendments are proposed and ratified

Only used once

Many proposed, few acceptedCongress has considered over 11,000 Amendments since 1797.

Only 33 have been sent to the states.

Only 27 have been ratified

This is on purpose!!!

Many proposed, few accepted

No time limit mentioned

Informal methods to amend Constitution

Congressional Legislation

-Congress has the power to carry out its duties as the nation’s legislative body

Meaning…They get to interpret the Constitution

Article 1 Sect. 8: To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states

Informal methods to amend Constitution

Presidential Actions

-Presidents have proposed hundreds of bills to Congress each year

Meaning…They get to interpret the Constitution through introducing bills to Congress

Informal methods to amend Constitution

Judicial Review

-Courts examining the constitutionality of actions undertaken by the legislative and executive branches.

27 AmendmentsEach of you will be assigned one of the 27 Amendments.

For each Amendment, please complete the following on a blank white sheet of paper;

-Amendment-Exact wording of the Amendment-In layman’s terms meaning-Real life examples/implications-An image that represents the meaning

We will be putting these up on the wall when finished.

Articles of the Constitution Discussion Questions

With a partner, please discuss each of the following questions.

Then individually, write down the conclusion that you came to.

Do this on the back of your Constitution mapping.

Articles of the Constitution Discussion Questions

1. What topics received the most attention in the Constitution? Where is your evidence?

Articles of the Constitution Discussion Questions

2. What hypotheses could you come up with that would explain what the Founders felt was important in government?

Articles of the Constitution Discussion Questions

3. To what extent do the powers that you found match the powers that you are aware of today in government?

Articles of the Constitution Discussion Questions

4. What were you surprised with about the Articles?

27 Amendments

Looking back over the Amendments we created last block, I would like to rank them.

Please rank the 27 Amendments 1-27 based on importance. Then choose 5 to provide rational for (must include top and bottom choice).

GOP Debate #2The 11 candidates that participated in Wednesday’s debate were;-Rand Paul-Donald Trump-Marco Rubio-Ben Carson-Jeb Bush-Carly Fiorina-Scott Walker-Chris Christie-Mike Huckabee-Ted Cruz-John Kasich

For each candidate, I would like for you to identify things you hear that you agree with and things you hear that you disagree with.