Getting to Know the Constitution: Part 1

Law and Government Straight To the Source Getting to know the Constitution: Part 1

Instructional Materials: Text Chapter 3 , The U.S. Constitution, various websites (you can find these linked on the e-copy of this assignment on the homework page.)

Procedures:

Part 1 1. Identify the purpose of each of the following parts of the Constitution:

a. Preamble

b. Articles I-VII

2. Identify two examples of checks and balances listed in the U.S. Constitution. Indicate where each is defined within the Constitution (i.e., article and section,) and explain how each is designed to limit power.

3. What does it mean for a law to be declared unconstitutional? What is the immediate effect of such a ruling on that law?

4. Some people consider the judicial branch to be the least democratic of the three branches of government because federal judges are not elected and cannot be easily removed. How can voters and their elected representatives check the power of the judicial branch? Law and Government Straight To the Source Getting to know the Constitution: Part 2:

5. Examine Article V of the Constitution.

a. Explain the processes for making changes to the Constitution.

b. Why allow for the initiation of proposed amendments from two different sources ( i.e., the Congress and the States?)

c. It is arguably quite difficult to make changes to the U.S. Constitution. Why did the founders make it so difficult to amend the Constitution?

6. Read through the Amendments to the Constitution. Choose 2 amendments that were passed after the Bill of Rights.

For each amendment chosen provide the following: 1. An overview/summary of the amendment 2. The historical background

a. Why was the amendment needed?

b. Who were the primary forces pushing for the change?

c. Who opposed the amendment and why?

3. The impact of the amendment on American society

7. Failed Amendments a. Research some proposed Amendments that have failed. The following sources identify some of these:

a.i. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_proposed_amendments_to_the_United_States_Co nstitution

a.ii. http://www.11points.com/News- Politics/11_Strange_Proposed_Constitutional_Amendments_That_Obviously_Failed

a.iii. http://www.lexisnexis.com/constitution/amendments_failed.asp

a.iv. http://teachinghistory.org/history-content/ask-a-historian/21861

b. Choose 1 failed amendment.

b.i. Explain what it was

b.ii. Would you have supported it? Why or why not?

8. Recently proposed Amendments:

a. Visit http://www.usconstitution.net/constamprop.html for a list of recently proposed amendments and identify one for further research.

a.i. Provide an overview/summary of the amendment

a.i.1. The historical background

a.i.1.a. Who proposed the amendment

a.i.1.b. Why do supporters claim the amendment needed?

a.i.1.c. Identify the pros and cons of passing this amendment.

a.i.2. Would you support this amendment? Explain why or why not.