Unit 2: The Constitution
Home Syllabus Resources Unit 1: Unit 2: Unit 3: Unit 4: Unit 5: Unit 6: Unit 7: Unit 8:		Diagram 1: US Government Indicator and Supporting Content: Students will analyze historical documents in order to determine the basic principles of United States government and apply them to real world situations. Identify and define individual and group values Analyze primary source documents:  Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence to identify democratic principles contained within each Identify the purposes of government contained in the Preamble of the Constitution Draw conclusions about the structure of the American government as outlined in the Constitution Identify rights contained in the Bill of Rights Describe the process used to amend the Constitution Evaluate the constitutional distribution of powers between the national and state governments Determine the relationship between democratic values and the principles contained in the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and Amendments Assess the degree to which democratic principle assist or impede the rights of individuals and groups Analyze issues related to disparities between American ideals and the realities of governing a democratic society Vocabulary: amendment                                   ideals                                     principles checks and balances                      impede                                   propose concurrent                                   justice                                   ratify consent of the governed                liberty                                   redress denied                                         limited government                  tranquility disparity                                     majority rule                          union domestic                                      minority rights                       welfare exclusive                                     petition                                  values federalism                                   separation of powers              posterity  Values & Principles of Democracy 1.  The power of government needs to be limited using the methods of separation of powers and checks and balances. 2.  The rule of law for a nation needs to be in written form (constitution). The people should have the right to alter (change), abolish (do away with), or form a new government.                                 3.  The people of a nation must consent to what takes place in government. 4.  Each individual has certain rights and freedoms. 5.  The majority makes the decisions, but minority rights must be protected. 6.  Every person is equal under the law.                       Helpful Sites   The Constitution Community Web Page Find information about the Constitution from the National Archives ** Constitution Basics The Constitution at Work Documents Related to Constitutional History The Declaration of Independence The Constitution Magna Carta Magna Carta and Its American Legacy The Bill of Rights
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