Mr. Ditzenberger, American Government
Time: 5 Periods, 3:30 hours
Unit 1Lesson: U.S. Constitution
Week: 8 Dates: October 1-5
Objectives:
1. Students will develop their understanding of basic constitutional principles by finding examples within the constitution.
2. Students will analyze the Bill of Rights and what each amendment affords citizens of the U.S.
3. Students will write a letter to a governmental official about a change they would suggest in their passport country.
4. Students will analyze the pros and cons of different issues that are contested in today’s political world.
Materials: Textbook, http://ditzenberger.blogspot.com/index.html; textbook, lectures, game materials.
Monday
Turn in Homework!!! Recite the preamble before the end of the day.
Opener: tell someone in your group what is contained in the first seven articles of the constitution.
OQ-Just for fun.
Finish Power Grab game.
Lecture, Bill of Rights
Study for test on Friday.
Tuesday.
1. Opener: Tell someone two things you learned about the Bill of Rights yesterday.
2. Finish Bill of Rights lecture.
3. Bill of Rights Game
Wednesday
1. Opener: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” –Patrick Henry Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. Finish Bill of Rights Game
3. Constitutional Cube activity
Thursday
1. Opener: Plessy vs. Ferguson
2. Constitution Test if time permits
3. Write a letter to a representative, minister (secretary), or another elected official about a civil rights issue in your country that concerns you. Due Monday.
Friday
Debate: Death Penalty and Patriot Act (or students will choose a government related topics)
Friday, September 28, 2007
Constitution Exercise-Summaries
Article I
Section 1-all legislative powers are vested in Congress
Section 2-requirments for members of the H of R; also defines # per state and area
Section 3-2 senators/state. No senators under 30. Defines Senate’s power (try impeachments)
Section 4-elections determined by the states, but Congress can change it.
Purpose-details, rules and regulations, vetoes of the H of R
Section 5-how the houses are run
Section 6-the treatment of reps and senators
Section 7- process of passing and vetoing bills
Purpose-define the parameters that congress can act w/in. Outlines what states cannot do.
Section 8-powers of congress. 1) econ decisions 2) military 3) justice 4)infrastructure
Section 9-slavery until 1808, privilege of Writ of Habeas Corpus, gov officer can’t have any noble title
Section 10-outlines of what states cannot do, especially regarding state taxation, states can’t engage in war in times of peace
Article II
Purpose-executive power invested in the pres, electoral process establ., powers of pres are outlined
Section 1-electoral college, exec is president, qualifications for who can be pres, Section 2-commander and chief of military,
Section 3-pres obligated to give state of the union
Section 4-president can be impeached
Article III
Purpose-define judicial power
Section 1-greatest power to Supreme Court, which congress can establish, no term limits,
Section 2-jurisdiction of the S.C., trial by jury (except in impeachment)
Section 3-definition of treason
Article IV
Purpose-States’ place in the constitution/government
Section 1-full faith and credit clause, (states should respect other states)
Section 2-one state can’t discriminate against citizens of other states
Section 3-process of admitting new states
Section 4-all states are required to have a republican form of government
Article V
Amendments-2/3 congress or 2/3 states call convention (never happened), ratified by ¾ of states, or ¾ of conventions (happened once, repeal of 18th by 21st)
Article VI –constitution is the supreme law of the land
Article VII-ratification
Section 1-all legislative powers are vested in Congress
Section 2-requirments for members of the H of R; also defines # per state and area
Section 3-2 senators/state. No senators under 30. Defines Senate’s power (try impeachments)
Section 4-elections determined by the states, but Congress can change it.
Purpose-details, rules and regulations, vetoes of the H of R
Section 5-how the houses are run
Section 6-the treatment of reps and senators
Section 7- process of passing and vetoing bills
Purpose-define the parameters that congress can act w/in. Outlines what states cannot do.
Section 8-powers of congress. 1) econ decisions 2) military 3) justice 4)infrastructure
Section 9-slavery until 1808, privilege of Writ of Habeas Corpus, gov officer can’t have any noble title
Section 10-outlines of what states cannot do, especially regarding state taxation, states can’t engage in war in times of peace
Article II
Purpose-executive power invested in the pres, electoral process establ., powers of pres are outlined
Section 1-electoral college, exec is president, qualifications for who can be pres, Section 2-commander and chief of military,
Section 3-pres obligated to give state of the union
Section 4-president can be impeached
Article III
Purpose-define judicial power
Section 1-greatest power to Supreme Court, which congress can establish, no term limits,
Section 2-jurisdiction of the S.C., trial by jury (except in impeachment)
Section 3-definition of treason
Article IV
Purpose-States’ place in the constitution/government
Section 1-full faith and credit clause, (states should respect other states)
Section 2-one state can’t discriminate against citizens of other states
Section 3-process of admitting new states
Section 4-all states are required to have a republican form of government
Article V
Amendments-2/3 congress or 2/3 states call convention (never happened), ratified by ¾ of states, or ¾ of conventions (happened once, repeal of 18th by 21st)
Article VI –constitution is the supreme law of the land
Article VII-ratification
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Week 7, Syllabus
Mr. Ditzenberger, American Government
Time: 5 Periods, 3:30 hours
Unit 1 Lesson: U.S. Constitution
Week: 7 Dates: September 24-28
Objectives:
1. Students will analyze the benefits and results of compromise in the formation of the Constitution.
2. Students will list and summarize the main components of each of the seven articles.
3. Students will develop an understanding of the principles of constitutional government through a game.
4. Students will discuss the Bill of Rights in a teacher led lecture.
5. Students will reflect on the importance of constitutional principles in their own lives.
Materials: Textbook, http://ditzenberger.blogspot.com/index.html; textbook, lectures, game materials.
Monday
Opener: Turn to your new neighbor and compliment them. Then tell them why the A of C were weak.
Survey-Christmas party.
Compromises.
Tuesday.
1. Opener: Find someone from another group and decide whether they are a big state or a small state. Then tell them what they would get out of the new Constitution.
2. Directions: Using a copy of the Constitution, answer the following questions. Do NOT read the document—just look at it (10 minutes).
a. How many separate sections (called articles) does the Constitution have?
b. How many pages is the Constitution? Is it longer or shorter than you expected?
c. How does the length compare to the ICS student handbook?
d. The first article is about the legislative branch, the second article is about the executive branch, and the third article deals
with the judicial branch. Without reading the articles themselves, what can you infer about how the Founders viewed these
three branches of government?
e. What can you tell about the Constitution based on the way it is organized?
f. How many people signed the Constitution?
g. Is this number higher or lower than you expected?
h. What do you notice about the makeup of the list of signers?
3. Form groups based on the Constitution card that you received (20 minutes).
a. Locate your quotation in the Constitution and then carefully read and explain your section(s) of the Constitution, filling out the correct
section in Handout D.
b. Get in new groups and fill in the remainder of the handout.
4. Homework: read through the entire Constitution in one sitting. Sign your name and submit it-honor code. Due tomorrow.
Wednesday
1. Opener: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” –Patrick Henry Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. The Cube game (Constitutional principles).
3. Oral quiz
4. Power Grab Game
Thursday
1. Opener: Plessy vs. Ferguson
2. Lecture, Bill of Rights
3. Write a letter to a representative, minister (secretary), or another elected official about a civil rights issue in your country that concerns you. Due Friday.
Friday
Opener: Opportunity Quiz
Reflection: Principle of Balance of Power/Separation of Powers applied. How will you, next year, apply this principle in your own life? List some ways. These will be shared in class (anonymously). Due Monday.
Review of this past week’s material. Jeopardy.
Current Event: An article relating to civil rights in your passport country.
Time: 5 Periods, 3:30 hours
Unit 1 Lesson: U.S. Constitution
Week: 7 Dates: September 24-28
Objectives:
1. Students will analyze the benefits and results of compromise in the formation of the Constitution.
2. Students will list and summarize the main components of each of the seven articles.
3. Students will develop an understanding of the principles of constitutional government through a game.
4. Students will discuss the Bill of Rights in a teacher led lecture.
5. Students will reflect on the importance of constitutional principles in their own lives.
Materials: Textbook, http://ditzenberger.blogspot.com/index.html; textbook, lectures, game materials.
Monday
Opener: Turn to your new neighbor and compliment them. Then tell them why the A of C were weak.
Survey-Christmas party.
Compromises.
Tuesday.
1. Opener: Find someone from another group and decide whether they are a big state or a small state. Then tell them what they would get out of the new Constitution.
2. Directions: Using a copy of the Constitution, answer the following questions. Do NOT read the document—just look at it (10 minutes).
a. How many separate sections (called articles) does the Constitution have?
b. How many pages is the Constitution? Is it longer or shorter than you expected?
c. How does the length compare to the ICS student handbook?
d. The first article is about the legislative branch, the second article is about the executive branch, and the third article deals
with the judicial branch. Without reading the articles themselves, what can you infer about how the Founders viewed these
three branches of government?
e. What can you tell about the Constitution based on the way it is organized?
f. How many people signed the Constitution?
g. Is this number higher or lower than you expected?
h. What do you notice about the makeup of the list of signers?
3. Form groups based on the Constitution card that you received (20 minutes).
a. Locate your quotation in the Constitution and then carefully read and explain your section(s) of the Constitution, filling out the correct
section in Handout D.
b. Get in new groups and fill in the remainder of the handout.
4. Homework: read through the entire Constitution in one sitting. Sign your name and submit it-honor code. Due tomorrow.
Wednesday
1. Opener: “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” –Patrick Henry Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. The Cube game (Constitutional principles).
3. Oral quiz
4. Power Grab Game
Thursday
1. Opener: Plessy vs. Ferguson
2. Lecture, Bill of Rights
3. Write a letter to a representative, minister (secretary), or another elected official about a civil rights issue in your country that concerns you. Due Friday.
Friday
Opener: Opportunity Quiz
Reflection: Principle of Balance of Power/Separation of Powers applied. How will you, next year, apply this principle in your own life? List some ways. These will be shared in class (anonymously). Due Monday.
Review of this past week’s material. Jeopardy.
Current Event: An article relating to civil rights in your passport country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)