1. Good Day!
DRAW A LINE SEPARATING TODAY &
YESTERDAY
1) Write: Date: 09/02/09, Topic: Constitution Intro
2) On the next line, write “Opener #7” and then:
1) Plot your mood, reflect in 1 sent.
2) Respond to the opener by writing
at least 3 sentences about:
Your opinions/thoughts OR/AND
Questions sparked by the clip OR/AND
Summary of the clip OR/AND
Other things going on in the news.
Announcements: None

2. Work #7a, Title “Opener Shareout”
Pick 1 thing from your opener to
share with your partner.
1) Each of you sign your
name in your partner’s
workbook under 1) to verified
you’ve shared.

4. Agenda
1) Constitution Introduction
Essential Question
1) Why is our constitution structured
the way it is?
Reminder
1) Find & complete your 4 news pods

5. Participation (10 points a week)
Negative Mark: Minus 2 Points Each
0 Check: 6 Points
1 Check: 7 Points
2 Checks: 8 Points
3 Checks: 9 Points
4 Checks: 10 Points
5 Checks: 11 Points (+1 EC)
6 Checks: 12 Points (+2 EC)
7 Checks: 13 Points (+3 EC)
8 Checks: 14 Points (+4 EC)

6. Review
1) States Come First: Colonies (states)
experienced close to 200 years of
separate freedom before joining the
USA.
2) Federalism: Splitting, overlapping,
and conflicting power between the
state and federal (national) gov
(federal technically means split gov,
now refers to national gov)
3) History of US Federalism: States
had more power > then equal in the
1800s > 1900s Federal became
supreme (recently state wins some).

7. Notes #7a, Title: “Constitution Notes”
1) Constitutional Gov: US one of few societies
with strong belief in rule of law.
2) US Constitution (1788): Social contract ratified
by ppl conventions (representative vote), 9/13.
China: Article 35. Citizens of the People's Republic of
China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of
assembly, of association, of procession and of
demonstration.
US: Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievanc

9. "I do solemnly swear (or
affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the office of
President of the United
States, and will to the
best of my ability,
preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution of
the United States.“
From Article 2 of the
US Constitution

10. "I, _____, do solemnly
swear (or affirm) that I will
support and defend the
Constitution of the United
States against all
enemies, foreign and
domestic; that I will bear
true faith and allegiance
to the same; and that I
will obey the orders of the
President of the United
States” -US Code

11. Notes #7a, Title: “Constitution Notes”
3) US Constitution Characteristics:
a) Republican demo (representative)
b) Federalism (national/state share power)
c) Separation of Powers (legis, exec, jud)
Secret Sauce (not written but expected)
d) Common Good/Virtue: We have no king
to keep us together, so we must have
the character to make experiment work.

12. Constitutional Structure and Amendment:
Article 1: Congress/Legislature (House + Senate)
Article 2: President/Executive (President +
Implied Bureaucracy)
Article 3: Federal Courts/Judiciary (US Courts)
Article 4: State Limits
Article 5: Amendment Process:
2/3 of Congress > 3/4 States
2/3 of States > 3/4 States (never used)
Article 6: National Supremacy (when granted)
Article 7: Ratification Process
Amendments: First 10 (Bill of Rights)
27 Amendments Total So Far

13. CONSTITUTIONAL CHECKS AND BALANCES:
Article 1: Congress/Legislature (House + Senate)
Makes the laws
Article 2: President/Executive (President +
Implied Bureaucracy)
Executes the laws
Article 3: Federal Courts/Judiciary (US Courts)
Interprets the laws

14. Notes #7a, Title: “Constitution Notes”
4)
Constitution
1:
Legislature
(S + H)
2:
Executive
(President)
3: Judicial
(SC, CC,
DC)
Bureaucracy

15. Notes #7a, Title: “Constitution Notes”
5) Federalism in the Constitution:
FEDERAL gov can ONLY do what
the Constitution says. Make laws
on very specific list of things.
STATE government can do (make
laws on) ANYTHING except when
forbidden by the US Constitution.
Parenting Analogy:
USA: You can only go to the library.
STATE: You can go anywhere
except the bar.

17. Power of Taxing and Spending:
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1. It
gives the Congress the power to
tax and spend. NPC lets Congress
make new laws to do raise money
to pay for something it wants.
Mandates Review: If when the Fed demands the
state to do something. If the state refuses, the
Fed will deny it money. (States can refuse to
obey and lose the money).

18. Interstate Commerce Clause (ICC): Article 1,
Section 8, Clause 3. It gives the Congress the
power to regulate interstate commerce
(commerce between states). NPC lets
Congress make new laws to raise money to
pay for something it wants. ICC is Fed’s
most useful tool!
NPC Review: NPC by itself has NO power.
Congress has to prove the new law is
connected to 1-17 like 3 (ICC), then the NPC
lets them make it.

19. President’s Listed Powers, Article 2
1) The President shall be commander in chief of the
Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of
the several states, when called into the actual service of
the United States
2) Power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses
against the United States, except in cases of
impeachment.
3) He shall have power, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two
thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall
nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court,
and all other officers of the United States.

20. Federal Court’s Listed Powers, Article 3
The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in
law and equity, arising under this Constitution,
the laws of the United States…to controversies
between two or more states… the Supreme
Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as
to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under
such regulations as the Congress shall make.
(Judicial Review: Most vague of the listed
powers for the branches, courts interpreted
themselves to have the power of review)

21. Amendments, Article 5
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses
shall deem it necessary, shall propose
Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the
Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the
several States, shall call a Convention for
proposing Amendments, which, in either Case,
shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as part of
this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures
of three fourths of the several States, or by
Conventions in three fourth
Framers thought amendments would happen
more often that it does (US: 27 CA: 500)

22. Past Amendments Proposed
but Failed
1876: Abolish the Senate
1878: Replace the President with a
Council of 3
1893: Abolish the Military
1914: Make divorce illegal
1916: Declare war through voting,
and have those who vote yes to
register for military service
1933: Limit personal wealth to $1
million
1971: To declare citizens have a right
to a clean environment

23. Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on
account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce,
by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

24. Work #7b, “Equal Rights Amendment Debate”
“Equality of rights under the law shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by
any State on account of sex.”
1) Read the 2 sides, choose 1 side, and write
which you choose and explain why.
2) Then write down what your partner thinks
(include their name at the end).
1 2 3 4 5
CON: Reject ERA
1) Civil rights laws
already protect women
2) Some things should
not be equal access, like
military service (combat)
PRO: Add ERA
1) Adding constitution
ensures women rights
2) There is no reason for
anything not to be equal

25. 35 states which ratified the ERA rescinded their

26. Future Amendments Being Discussed
1) Flag Burning Amendment: Ban flag burning
(Fed Courts say we have a 1st
Amendment right
to burn flags)
2) Marriage Amendment: Define marriage as
between a man and a woman. (Fed courts have
refused to decide yet)
3) Arnold Amendment: Let non US born citizens
run for president.
4) End the Electoral College Amendment: Let
voters directly choose the president.

27. Work #7c, Title “Constitution Video”
1) Copy Source Title: Annenberg
2…) Discuss questions on the board
with a partner. Summarize your
discussion (include their name at the
end). Remember participation points
are deducted if off task.
5 Reading/Film Qs Come From These Work Sections

28. Work #7d, Title “Constitution Scavenger Hunt”
With your groups, find the answer and where
in article, section, & clause can I find each:
1) Age requirement to run for Congress (House)?
2) How to amend (change) Constitution?
3) How judges are selected?
4) How laws are passed?
5) Current age to vote (citizens)?
6) Who can declare war?
7) Who has power over revenue (taxes)?
8) Right to freedom of speech and religion
9) Right to be treated equally by fed govt
10) Right to be treated equally by state govts

29. Workbook
peer check:
Have your
partner look at
your notebook
to see if the
formatting is
correct, get
their signature
under Work#5a

30. Homework:
1) Study today’s notes + work sections
for a possible workbook quiz.
2) Pick and listen to your 4 news
podcast by next Monday.