WARM UPWARM UP

In your notebook, copy the letters In your notebook, copy the letters A through Z down the left side of A through Z down the left side of your paperyour paper

Take 5 minutes to brainstorm Take 5 minutes to brainstorm words or phrases for each letter words or phrases for each letter that has to do with the US that has to do with the US Constitution.Constitution.

ABCDEF

A-AmendmentB-Bill of RightsC-Constitution

TOPICS OF THE DAYTOPICS OF THE DAY

1) The US Constitution is a living 1) The US Constitution is a living document.document.

2)How does the North Carolina 2)How does the North Carolina Constitution compare to our US Constitution compare to our US Constitution?Constitution?

11stst Activity Activity

US Constitution Human Scavenger HuntUS Constitution Human Scavenger Hunt1)Pick up a scavenger hunt worksheet 1)Pick up a scavenger hunt worksheet

2)Circulate around the room finding people who 2)Circulate around the room finding people who know the answers to the scavenger hunt know the answers to the scavenger hunt questionsquestions

3)You must find a DIFFERENT person for each 3)You must find a DIFFERENT person for each question.question.

4)Try to be the quickest TEAM to finish.4)Try to be the quickest TEAM to finish.

…………GO!!!GO!!!

A LIVING A LIVING CONSTITUTIONCONSTITUTION

TAKE SOME NOTES

Why is the Why is the Constitution Constitution called a “living” called a “living” document?document?

“THE CONSTITUTION WAS NOT MADE TO FIT US LIKE A STRAIGHTJACKET. IN ITS ELASTICITY LIES ITS CHIEF GREATNESS.”

Woodrow Wilson

AmendmentAmendment

Any change to the Any change to the ConstitutionConstitution

ARTICLE 5: AMENDING ARTICLE 5: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTIONTHE CONSTITUTION

Article 5Article 5: : The Congress, whenever two thirds of The Congress, whenever two thirds of

both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Ratification may be proposed by the CongressCongress

Amendment ProcessAmendment Process

1)1) Proposal:Proposal:- By a 2/3 vote in Congress - By a 2/3 vote in Congress

- - Or by a national conventionOr by a national convention

2)2) Ratification:Ratification:- By ¾ of the states by a vote in each - By ¾ of the states by a vote in each legislatureslegislatures

- - Or by calling special state conventionsOr by calling special state conventions

Interpreting the Interpreting the ConstitutionConstitution

Loose interpretation:Loose interpretation: Congress should be allowed to make any Congress should be allowed to make any

laws not forbidden by the Constitution.laws not forbidden by the Constitution.

Strict interpretation:Strict interpretation: Congress should only be able to make Congress should only be able to make

the kinds of laws that the Constitution the kinds of laws that the Constitution mentions.mentions.

Necessary and proper clause:Necessary and proper clause:

Congress has the power “to make all laws which Congress has the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.duties.

TODAY’S TODAY’S CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUESCONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

Gun Control and the 2Gun Control and the 2ndnd AmendmentAmendment

Death Penalty and Cruel Death Penalty and Cruel and Unusualand Unusual

Prayer in Schools 1Prayer in Schools 1stst AmendmentAmendment

Censorship & Free SpeechCensorship & Free Speech Terrorism and Seize and Terrorism and Seize and

Seizure rules – 4thSeizure rules – 4th Term Limits for CongressTerm Limits for Congress Campaign finance reformCampaign finance reform Abortion and Due Process Abortion and Due Process

rights – 5thrights – 5th

Let’s Watch a Let’s Watch a VIDEO!VIDEO! The Constitution i

s a Living Document

Comparing Comparing Constitutions Constitutions ActivityActivity Team Leaders, grab packets from the Team Leaders, grab packets from the

front.front. Work with your teams to complete the Work with your teams to complete the

worksheet asking questions about worksheet asking questions about these two documentsthese two documents

ClosureClosure

Essential Question:Essential Question:How does the structure of the US and How does the structure of the US and

NC Constitutions balance NC Constitutions balance government power with the will of government power with the will of the people?the people?