Bell Work

1. Bell Work • Bell Work • “These principles form the bright constellation which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation.” • Who do you think wrote this? • What do you think they are talking about in each phrase? Break it down and have thoughts ready! • Get Books • Get Clickers

2. Chapter 3 Outline • Tues. Bell Work • Get Book: Have Jobs and policies out and ready for checking • Chapter 3: The Constitution • Six basic principles (1day) • Formal Amendment (1day) • Constitutional Change by other means (1day)

3. Section 1 • What are the important elements of the constitution? • What are the six basic principles of the constitution

4. Outline of the constitution • The constitution sets out the basic principles upon which government in the U.S. was built • The Constitution is a fairly brief document • Organized into eight sections • The Preamble and seven articles • Original document followed by 27 amendments

5. Articles of the Constitution (760-75)

6. Summary/Facts for Articles • Article #1-3 (Branch powers) • Establishes the power granted to the 3 branches • Article 4 (State Relations) • Relationships among the states and w/the national government: states will accept others laws and citizens will treat each other equally across state lines

7. Summary/Facts for Articles • Article 5 (Amending) • Outlines the method for changing or amending the constitution • Article 6 (Supreme law) • Talks about assuming all prior debts (old). It sets the Constitution and all laws and treaties of the U.S. to be the supreme law of the country. Requires all officers of the U.S. and of the states to swear an oath of allegiance • Article 7 (Ratification) • Outlines the method for ratifying the Constitution

8. Basic Principles • The Constitution is built on Six basic principles • These principles have been an enduring and flexible guide for governing our nation for over 200 years

9. Basic Principles • Popular Sovereignty • “We the people” • Asserts the “people” are the source of any and all government power. • Idea that government can exist only with the consent of the governed • Limited Government • Government has only as much authority as the people give it. • Government is restricted in what it can do • Constitution is made up of specific limitations on government power • Each individual has rights the government cannot take away

10. Basic Principles • Separation of Powers • Three branches of government are independent and coequal • Intended to prevent misuse of power by one branch • Checks and Balances • Allows branches to check or restrain the actions of one another • Each branch has built in authority over another. • Prevents tyranny (misuse) by one branch • Know and understand concept on pg.68

11. Basic Principles • Judicial Review • Court has power to determine constitutionality of governments actions • Holds government responsible to the constitution • Federalism • Powers divided b.t. central government and smaller local governments. • Ensures Central government is powerful enough to be effective, but not enough to overpower the states/citizens.

12. Lesson Closing • Due tomorrow at beginning of class • This will either be HW or Class-work • Make either a cartoon/sketch, or web diagram showing one of the basic principles of the constitution

13. Game outline • Class divided into 6 teams (3 for per.4) • Each team gets one of the 6 basic principles • Your team needs to Write/Draw three clues for that principle. (Written clues have 2 word max) • These clues are either in “password” or “charades” form. I.E. 1 word clues: dog…..sound…=bark • 3 Clues will be assigned 1, 2, or 3 pts for difficulty. • Hand in completed index cards. • Game: • Each player from a team will come up and draw from the pile of clues • If that player cannot place the clue under the correct Principle, then they may ask a teammate to come up and help for ½ the points • If a player yells or attempts to contact another player for help during any part of the game, that attempt is done and the card will be placed back in the stack. • Team w/ most points at end wins automatic 100% grade and treat on Monday • This is a project grade in the grade-book and your participation, behavior, or lack of participation will all be taken into account!

14. Bell Work. • L-J #1 • Bell Work • Read Face the Issues on pg. 71 • Answer ?s: TPS • Schedule • What are the different ways to formally amend the constitution • How many times has it been changed? • What is the bill of rights

15. Face the Issues • Why do supporters of gun rights point to early English law to support their arguments? • To show that the 2nd amendment has roots in the 1600s, and that the right to bear arms to defend oneself was part of English law the constitution was based on. • Is public safety a sound reason for limiting constitutional rights? Why/why not? • Public safety could be sound reasoning to limit the 2nd amendment b/c provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

16. Amending the Constitution • The constitution provides for its own amendment; a changing in its written words. • Article V: Read Article V on pg. 770 • Sets out two methods for the proposal of an amendment and two methods for the ratification of amendments • Creating four possible methods of formal amendment to the constitution

17. Amendment Process • Proposed by 2/3 vote in each house of congress and ratified (formally approved) by ¾ of state legislatures (26/27 amendments) • Proposed by 2/3 vote in congress and ratified by ¾ of state legislatures in a convention called for that purpose • 21st amendment

18. Amendment Process • Amendment proposed by national convention called by congress at request of 2/3 of state legislatures, then ratified by ¾ of state legislatures (never done) • Proposed by national convention at request of 2/3 of state legislatures, then ratified by conventions in ¾ of states • Method in which Constitution was adopted

19. Amendment Process • Look at Diagram on pg. 75 and answer question • How does the formal amendment process illustrate federalism? • Both the national and state governments are involved in the process.

20. Bill of Rights • 1st ten amendments to the constitution • Set out constitutional guarantees of various freedoms • Belief and expression • Freedom and security of the person • Fair and equal treatment before the law • Read The later amendments and outline some of the major amendments.

21. Lesson Closing • L-J#2 • Work on Worksheets

22. Bell Work • Bell Work: Look up and be able to answer these questions with your table partner (s) • What are the three broad freedoms protected by the bill of rights? • Belief and expression • Freedom and security of the person • Fair and equal treatment before the law • How many amendments to the constitution? What are 1st 10? • 27: first ten are bill of rights • Describe 2 of 4 methods of formal amendment • Proposed 2/3 house, ratified by ¾ of states • Proposed 2/3 of house, ratified by conventions in ¾ states • Proposed @ nat’l convention 2/3, ratified by ¾ states • Proposed @ nat’l convention 2/3, ratified by conventions in ¾ states

23. 3.3 Key Idea • The 27 formal amendments have not been as important a part in shaping, and keeping up to date, the constitution as many think. Realistically informal changes that have taken place as a result of the day-day and year-year activities of the government are most important!!

24. Becoming Experts!! You will separate into assigned groups. Each group will have a recorder, leader, and presenter (or 2) that need to be identified early in the group. Once you have your sheet completed come record it on the board Group One Basic Legislation Group Two Executive and Judicial Actions Group Three Party Practices and Customs 3.3 Lecture Activity

25. Legislation • Important in two ways • Has passed a number of laws that helped spell out several of the constitutions brief provisions • Examples include est. lower courts, est. the many executive offices, and est. succession of presidency is the v.p. died as well • Has added to the constitution by passing many laws over areas the constitution granted it power. • Especially foreign/interstate commerce.

26. Executive and Judicial • Executive offices effect • Use of implied powers or by “scooting” by with outside powers granted them. • Power to declare war only to congress in Constitution; but president is Commander in Chief and he can then use the armed forces w/out declaration by congress • Use of executive agreements: used instead of treaties to avoid needing senate approval • Judicial • Have the ability to interpret and apply the constitution to laws. Can declare laws unconstitutional Established Supreme court as superior authority

27. Party Practices/Customs • Practices • Everything in government is ran through some sort of party lines • National conventions (never outlined in constitution) are now the ways presidents are nominated • Electoral college is now the final approval for the president; far from what it was initially intended. • Customs • Introduction of the cabinet is the biggest example of how they have changed the constitution • Senatorial Courtesy is another example

28. Lesson Closing • Start on study guide • L-J #3