The Constitution:Articles and Amendments

Grade 6 Social StudiesVideo to peak our interest (FLOCABULARY) (3min)

The Constitution: Background• Video (SHMOOP) (5min)• Questions: While you watch…

Who makes the laws?• Video (Branches of Gov, SHMOOP, 2:25)• Answer Question while you watch: What are the names of

the three branches of government?• 1.• 2.• 3.

Article 1: Legislative Branch• Senate and House of Representatives make up this

branch• Senators-6 year terms (2 per state = 100) • Representatives-2 year terms (depends on population)• Minimum age for • Representative-25 • Senator-30 • House of Representatives-7 years as citizen• Senate-9 years as citizen

• Speaker of House chosen by Representatives• Head of Senate=Vice President of United States • Senate has power to try impeachments

Article 1 - Continued• Bills become law by:• passing through both houses of

Congress • signed by President• President can veto (reject) law • veto can be overridden by 2/3

of House presenting bill

Article 1 - Continued• Congress has power to • Tax• declare war• control military $

Article 2: Executive Branch• President:• head of country• elected to four year term (2 max)• chosen by electors (538 total-270 to win presidency) • must natural-born citizen • be at least 35• -commander-in-chief of armed forces• can nominate Supreme Court Justices• can appoint ambassadors• can be impeached• succeeded by VP

Article 3: Judicial Branch• establishes the Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States • sets the terms of judges, of both the Supreme Court and lower courts• Supreme Court justices serve as long as they are on "good behavior," which

usually means for life• guarantees jury in criminal court, • states what cases heard by Supreme Court • defines treason

Article 4: Relationship between states

• states honor laws/citizens of other states• return criminals to states where crimes are committed• states protected by federal government

Article 5: Amendment Procedure

• Member of Congress may propose an amendment • 2/3 of each house must approve it • 3/4 of state legislatures must then also approve

it• another method allows Constitutional

Convention by 2/3 of states and must be approved by ¾ of states (never used)• has only been amended 27 times…it is a difficult

process

Article 6: National Supremacy• Constitution is supreme law of land• elected officials must take oath of allegiance

Article 7: Ratification • had to be approved by 9 of 13 states

Select Amendments

• Bill of Rights (First 10)• 13th (1865)-Abolition of Slavery• 14th (1868)-All Citizens have equal rights under

law• 15th (1870)-Right to vote regardless of race• 18th (1919)-Prohibition of Alcohol• 19th (1920)-Women’s right to vote• 21st (1933)-Repeal of Prohibition• 26th (1971)-Voting age set at 18

Bill of Rights• What do the Bill of Rights protect against?• What ideas inspired the Bill of Rights and the Constitution?• How was the creation of the Bill of Rights a reaction to Anti-

Federalist’s fears?• European Enlightenment Ideas – Video 5 min

The Hand Game• The Hand Game, a way to remember the Ammendments.

• Video 30sec