The Seven Principles of the Constitution

This lesson is intended to set the stage for student analysis of the U.S. Constitution. To understand how the Constitution establishes the framework for government, students need to be introduced to the principles the framers used to guide them when considering different governmental functions. In this introduction, the students will define the seven basic principles of the Constitution.

Essential Questions

What document or artifact best summarizes the United States and why?

What role does analysis have in historical construction?

Objectives

Students will be able to:

Identify the seven principles of the U.S. Constitution
Express the vocabulary meaning in both a written and graphic context
Contextualize the Constitution within the framework of the seven principles

Other Materials

“Copy of the U.S. Constitution printed and sold by Nathaniel Patten”

Suggested Instructional Procedures

1. Begin with a brief overview of how the United States government is constructed; i.e. three branches of government and what those branches do. This brief overview should be based on general questions that can be answered by individual students in order to activate prior knowledge.

2. Handout “seven principles” worksheet and explain to the students they will be learning about the seven most important principles the framers used to write the Consitution.

a. As you go through the definitions on the powerpoint, the students will need to copy them down in the correct box on their worksheet.

b. Ask the students, “Can anybody give me any examples of this principle?” – Example: Checks and Balances = president's ability to veto.

c. After the definition is copied, you will give the students a few minutes to draw a picture that represents the definition in the appropriate box on their worksheet.

d. After the students have created their picture, ask for two or three examples (students will describe what they have created).

3. Once the powerpoint with the definitions and images are complete, ask the students;

a. “Can anyone name examples of any of these principles they have experienced, seen on the news, or have experienced lately?”

b. “Can anybody give me examples from the US Constitution of any of these principles?”

4. Exit Ticket: Have students put the worksheet in their bag, handout exist tickets, and tell them:

a. Write down your favorite principle ( the list is on the last powerpoint slide), what that principle means, and why it is your favourite?

Vocabulary

Popular Sovereignty: People Control the government
Republicanism: A political philosophy that advocates for people electing their own legislatures to represent them government
Limited Government: The government only has the power provided to by the Constitution
Federalism: Separation of governmental power between state and national government
Separation of Powe: The separation of political power into three independent branches of government
Checks and Balances: Different branches of government are empowered to balance the power of the other branches to ensure that no one branch consolidates too much power
Individual Rights: Rights guaranteed by the Constitution to citizens