THE BIG IDEAS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

Transcription

1 SEEING THE BIG PICTURE THE BIG IDEAS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses. Introduction There are many Big Ideas contained in our Constitution, including this one, civic responsibility, which is defined as actions by the people that demonstrate their interest and participation in the governing of their country. In this activity, match each each Big Idea presented in the grid to the correct definition.

2 A basic principle of American government that places different governing duties and powers among three independent and coequal branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. 1

3 A form of government where there is a constitutional division of power between a central government and regional governments. 2

4 A system of government in which the people elect officials to govern for them. These officials are held accountable to the voters through periodic elections. 3

5 A system of overlapping powers of separate branches permitting each branch to limit, restrain, or inform the actions of other branches. 4

6 Checks and Balances 5

7 Enumerated Powers 6

8 Federalism 7

9 Implied Powers 8

10 Representative Government 9

11 Separation of Powers 10

12 The powers of government that are specifically outlined in the actual wording of the Constitution. 11

13 The powers of government that exist because they are not specifically prohibited by the wording in the Constitution, but are not specifically outlined in the wording. 12

14 The Big Ideas of the U.S. Constitution Matching Pairs Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Consider how each document or piece of text relates to each other and create matched pairs. To show how the documents or text are paired, enter the corresponding document or text number into the boxes below. Write your conclusion response in the space provided. Name Class Response

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16 Reward Document Constitution of the United States 9/17/1787 General Records of the United States Government National Archives Identifier: Learn more and read a transcript of the Constitution in the National Archives online exhibit The Charters of Freedom, and on the list of 100 Milestone Documents of American history on Additional Details on this Document from our Online Exhibit the Digital Vaults: Constitution of the United States The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. Because the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members adjourned from day to day until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25. Through discussion and debate it became clear by mid-june that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of government. All through the summer, in closed sessions, the delegates debated, and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution. Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected directly by the people or by the state legislators. The work of many minds, the Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise.

17 Reward Document Constitution of the United States (page 2)

18 Reward Document Constitution of the United States (page 3)

19 Reward Document Constitution of the United States (page 4)

20 SEEING THE BIG PICTURE THE BIG IDEAS OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION Conclusion Now that you have correctly matched the big ideas with the definition, click the link for your assigned team and complete the activity. Team 1: <a href= target= blank >Article I, sections 1-7</a> Team 2: <a href= target= blank >Article I, sections 8-10</a> Team 3: <a href= target= blank >Article II</a> Team 4: <a href= target= blank >Article III</a> Team 5: <a href= target= blank >Article IV</a> Team 6: <a href= target= blank >Article V,VI,VII