Lesson 4: Principles of the Constitution



Lesson 4: Principles of the Constitution

Essential Question(s): What were the four major principles of the Constitution and what were their purposes?

Standards: SS 5.1, SS 5.2, ELA 3.2, ELA 4.1

Materials:

- Index cards

- Four Main Principles graphic organizer

- Four Main Principles organizer transparency

- Constitutional Examples transparency (pwrpt)

Objectives: TSWBAT…

- identify the four main principles of the Constitution

- explain the meaning and purpose of each of these principles

Introduction:

-project on the board the following three terms:

1) popular sovereignty:

2) federalism:

3) separation of powers:

- have students come up and write in the definitions

- give them a fourth one:

4) limited government: some powers reserved to the people and the states

- anything that is not specifically written into the constitution as a power of the federal government (national government) is given to the people and the states. (draw a box on the board – it is a set thing)

Teaching Strategies and Accommodation:

- Tell students that the Founders of the Constitution had to solve two problems: how to give the government enough power to preserve the nation, and how to provide safeguards to prevent the government from taking away freedoms and rights of the people. The main principles of the Constitution serve these two functions.

- Show the Four Main Principles graphic: The principles:

1) popular sovereignty 2) federalism 3) separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial) 4) limited government.

-Have students count off numbers 1-4 to create four groups. Pass out an index card to each member of the class.

-Have students numbered 1 print “POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY” on one side of their index cards. 2s should print “FEDERALISM,” 3 “SEPARATION OF POWERS”, and 4 “LIMITED GOVERNMENT”.

-Have students turn their cards over and prepare to write a definition of the principle on the opposite side.

-Write the following definitions on the chalk board, or project them from a prepared page on the white board:

1-Popular Sovereignty: the idea that political authority belongs to the people

2-Federalism: power divided between nation and states

3-Separation of Powers: power divided among three branches of government

4-Limited Government: some powers reserved to the people and the states

-Allow time for students to copy these definitions on the reverse side of their note cards.

- Have students trade cards so that each member of the group can copy the definition of the other terms onto their graphic organizer

-Tell each group (numbers 1-4) that they are a team (don’t move together yet)

-Have each group research their text chapter on the constitution for examples of each of the principles of the Constitution. Tell them they are preparing for a team challenge

- Have students move into their groups 1-4. Tell them they have 15 seconds to discuss the examples that you will give them. Then each group must hold up the card that indicates which principle of the Constitution is being illustrated.

- On the board draw a score chart for each group. Have each group come up with a name for their team.

• Read the following examples one at a time AND post them with a powerpoint presentation or on an overhead transparency:

i. Neither a state nor the national government may prevent people from expressing their opinions.

ii. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution begins, “We the People of the United States…”

iii. Most criminal laws are passed by the states.

iv. The Senate confirms presidential appointments.

v. The national government provides the rules for bankruptcy.

vi. Government at the national and state level can impose taxes.

vii. The Supreme Court has no executive power to carry out its rulings.

viii. The national government prints our money.

ix. During the 19th century when new states were added to the US, people in the new state voted on whether or not to accept slavery.

x. The president signs or vetoes bills passed by Congress.

xi. The national government maintains armed forces.

xii. Supreme Court Justices are nominated by the president.

xiii. You may leave the country to visit friends in Europe if you want to.

xiv. Only Congress has the power to declare war.

xv. Senators are directly elected by the American people.

xvi. Citizens have the power of recall, which allows them to remove an official from office.

xvii. Local, state, and federal legislators are chosen by the American people through elections.

xviii. The Supreme Court can declare executive actions unconstitutional.

xix. States alone have the right to make marriage laws

- Call out the group numbers that have the correct answer. Ask a student from a group that got the correct answer to explain why the answer was correct. Clarify and expand answers as needed.

- Award each group 10 points for every correct answer.

Conclusion:

-Tally up the points

-Team winner gets candy or something….

- No homework, but tomorrow we will start the project that was introduced last class.

Assessment:

- I will use class participation and group answers in order to assess if students can identify the four main principles of the Constitution and explain the meaning and purpose of each of these principles

Self-Reflection:

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