Assignment #6: One-Day Constitution Teach-In (75 points)

For this assigment, you will do the following:

• Work in a small group of three people. Each group of three will be assigned a certain Article(s) of the Constitution to read and discuss the assigned questions. Then, each group will create a list of the five most important points they feel must be taught about the article(s). Each person in the group MUST be responsible for understanding the assigned article and the teachable points. One class day will be allocated for each of these groups to work together in the classroom.
• On the day the assignment is due, each person must be prepared to teach what they have learned about their article(s) to a new group of six students. In other words, in the three new groups of six students, there will be a student who has studied a specific part of the Constitution and who will share their knowledge with the entire group. At the end of this teach-in, each group will have learned the most important and teachable points about the Constitution.
• Each group must turn in their assignment at the end of the teach-in.

Please note: Each group is required to read one or more chapters in our required textbook, Our Constitution by Donald Ritchie. Please see your group assignment for the required chapter(s). You MUST use the information in these chapters to inform both your understanding of your section of the Constitution and to explain your section to the classmates in your expanded groups.

While researching your Article in the Constitution, remember that if your students are going to be interested in the Constitution - a document that effects their everyday lives - it must be taught in a manner that makes it interesting and relevant to your lives. BE CREATIVE WITH YOUR CHOICES ABOUT WHAT TO TEACH IN YOUR ARTICLE(S). YOU WANT YOUR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSTITUTION- AND TO FIND IT INTERESTING!!!. Directions are as follows:

• Group #1: Article 1, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 - The Legislative Branch.
  • Read Article 1, Sections 1-4 of the Constitution either individually or together.
  • Identify and answer any vocabulary questions.
  • Read pp. 70-85 in Our Constitution.
  • Read Chapter 2, "What kind of Government did the Constitution create" in Our Constitution?
  • Address the following questions and be sure you all know the answers.
    • What is the bottom line message in Section 1?
    • What is the most important point in Section 2?
    • What is the most important point in Section 2.2?
    • How and why was Section 2.3 changed by the 14th Amendment?
    • Who are "those bound to Service?"
    • What is the bottom line message in Section 3?
    • How did the 17th Amendment change Section 3.2?
    • Who can be a Senator?
    • What is the Vice President's job?
    • What is impeachment and who in solely in charge of impreachment proceedings?
    • What is important about Section 4?
    • What are the responsibilities of House members in Section 5.1 and why are they be important?
    • How might the Senate practice of filabustering factor into Section 5? And the rule of cloture?
    • What are the requirements of Sections 5.3 and 5.4?
  • Finally, , complete the assignment that is due at the beginning of class:
    • Discuss and come to a consensual decision about the 5 most important things you should teach your students about your assigned section of the constitution. Be sure to include how and why one or more of your most important points is relevant to the constitutional conflict that we are currently facing. Write these down and provide a brief justification for each point.
    • Assign one person in your group to type them up and make six copies for the class discussion. You must include any discussion of debate and compromise that occurred while the Founders deliberated Article I, Sections 1-5.

• Group #2: Article 1, Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 - The Legislative Branch
  • Read Article 1, Sections 6-10 either individually or together.
  • Identify and answer any vocabulary questions.
  • Read pp. 86-106 in Our Constitution.
  • Read Chapter 2, "What kind of Government did the Constitution create" in Our Constitution?
  • Address the following questions and be sure you all know the answers.
• What are the responsibilities of House members in Section 5.1 and why are they be important?
• How might the Senate practice of filabustering factor into Section 5? And the rule of cloture?
• What are the requirements of Sections 5.3 and 5.4?
• What is the single most important point for Section 6? How did the 27th Amendment change this, or did it?
• Why is Section 7 considered to be one of the most important sections of the Constitution? What does it require?
• What is a veto? A pocket veto - and how are they discussed in Section 7.2?
• What is an enumerated power? Which of these 18 enumerated powers do you think are most important to understand? Why?
• Article I, Section 8.3 is one of the most important but least understood of the Congressional powers. By what name is this clause commonly referred? What is its bottom line message?
• What is Naturalization (Section 8.4)? How is this changed by the 14th Amendment?
• What is the bottom line message of Section 8.14?
• What is the importance of Section 9.1?
• Section 9 contains one of two rights specifically mentioned in the Constitution. Where and what is it and how would you define it? Has this right ever been suspended? When?
• What is the historical and contemporary significance of the so-called Emoluments Clause in Section 9.8?
• Section 10 explains the limits on the powers of the state. Pick 2 of these limitations you feel are most important to understand and explain why.
• Finally, , complete the assignment that is due at the beginning of class:
  • Discuss and come to a consensual decision about the 5 most important things you should teach your students about your assigned section of the constitution. Be sure to include how and why one or more of your most important points is relevant to the constitutional conflict that we are currently facing. Write these down and provide a brief justification for each point.
  • Assign one person in your group to type them up and make six copies for the class discussion. You must include any discussion of debate and compromise that occurred while the Founders deliberated Article I, Sections 6-10?.

• Group #3: Article II, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 - The Executive Branch
  • Read Article I1, Sections 1-4 either individually or together.
  • Identify and answer any vocabulary questions.
  • Read pp.108-117 in Our Constitution.
  • Read Chapter 2, "What kind of Government did the Constitution create" in Our Constitution?
  • Address the following questions and be sure you all know the answers.
    • How is the Executive Branch organized?
    • How is the President elected?
    • How is the Vice President selected? What Amendment changes how the Vice President is selected? What are those changes?
    • What is the Electoral College? How is the Electoral College created? Does the number in the Electoral College always stay the same?
    • Can the popular vote for President differ from the vote of the Electoral College?
    • If the President is removed from office what happens to the Vice President? If the President is removed from office who becomes the President?
    • Describe the powers of the President.
    • What does Section 2 say about the powers of the President as Commander-in-Chief ?
    • What is a Cabinet?
    • What is a pardon? Can the President pardon any crime? Can the President pardon anyone?
    • What are treaties?
    • Describe the duties of the President as written in Section 3 of Article II?
    • What does Section 4 of Article II of the Constitution do?
    • How is the impeachment of the President and other federal officials carried out in Congress?
  • Finally, , complete the assignment that is due at the beginning of class:
    • Discuss and come to a consensual decision about the 5 most important things you should teach your students about your assigned section of the constitution. Be sure to include how and why one or more of your most important points is relevant to the constitutional conflict that we are currently facing. Write these down and provide a brief justification for each point.
    • Assign one person in your group to type them up and make six copies for the class discussion. You must include any discussion of debate and compromise that occurred while the Founders deliberated Article II, Sections 1-4?

• Group #4: Article III - The Judiciary
  • Read Article III either individually or together.
  • Identify and answer any vocabulary questions.
  • Read pp. 118-125 in Our Constitution.
  • Read Chapter 4, "How has the Constitution expanded over time?" and Chapter 5 "How is the Constitution interpreted" in Our Constitution.
  • Address the following questions and be sure you all know the answers.
• What is the highest court in the country? Is it the only court?
• How are other courts established?
• How long can a Supreme Court judge sit? Can a judge retire or resign when they wish? Are judges paid?
• How many justices are appointed to the Supreme Court? How is the Chief Justice selected?.
• What does original jurisdiction mean? Where does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?
• What does appellate jurisdiction mean? Where does the Supreme Court have appellate jurisdiction?
• What right is set up in Section 2?
• Where will your trial occur if you are accused of a crime?
• What kind of case does the judiciary not have jurisdiction over?
• What is treason? Who determines the punishment for treason?
• Finally, , complete the assignment that is due at the beginning of class:
  • Discuss and come to a consensual decision about the 5 most important things you should teach your students about your assigned section of the constitution. Be sure to include how and why one or more of your most important points is relevant to the constitutional conflict that we are currently facing. Write these down and provide a brief justification for each point.
  • Assign one person in your group to type them up and make six copies for the class discussion. You must include any discussion of debate and compromise that occurred while the Founders deliberated Article III?

• Group #5: Articles IV (States rights and responsibilities), Article V (Amendments), Article VI ( Roles and Responsibilities of the U.S.) and Article VII
  • Read Articles IV, V, VI, and VII either individually or together.
  • Identify and answer any vocabulary questions.
  • Read pp. 126-139 in Our Constitution.
  • Read Chapter 4, "How has the Constitution expanded over time?" and Chapter 5 "How is the Constitution interpreted" in Our Constitution.
  • Address the following questions and be sure all of you know the answers.
• If you are convicted of a crime in your state, can you move to another state so you have no criminal record?
• What is extradition? Do states have to extradite criminals or can they choose not to if they feel the other state is being unfair?
• When slavery was legal what had to happen to runaway slaves?
• Is it possible for the United States to accept more states into the Union?
• If a large city within the state wanted to break off and become its own state could it?
• If a state joins the Union and had certain lands, could the government determine they no longer had those lands upon entry into the Union?
• Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States. What rights and responsibilities do territories have?
• Could Kentucky's governor decide to appoint all the state's offices and pass all the laws he wants when he wants?
• What happens if California is attacked or invaded?
• What has to happen to make an Amendment to the Constitution?
• How can a National Convention be called?
• What is ratification and how does it occur?
• If there is an argument between a state and the US, which would win?
• If you don't want to uphold the laws of the United States can you become a member of Congress? Of your state government instead of the federal?
• Can the oath of office require you to be Christian?
• The current oath has "So help you God" at the end. Is this a religious test? It can be interpreted as such therefore it may not be required to take office.
• Finally, , complete the assignment that is due at the beginning of class:
  • Discuss and come to a consensual decision about the 5 most important things you should teach your students about your assigned section of the constitution. Be sure to include how and why one or more of your most important points is relevant to the constitutional conflict that we are currently facing. Write these down and provide a brief justification for each point.
  • Assign one person in your group to type them up and make six copies for the class discussion. You must include any discussion of debate and compromise that occurred while the Founders deliberated Articles IV, V, and V?
• Group #6: The Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the Constitution.
  • Read each of the ten amendments either individually or together. Then, read the remainder of the amendments.
  • Identify and answer any vocabulary questions.
  • Read pp. 140-167 in Our Constitution.
  • Read Chapter 3, "What rights does the Constitution protect?" and Chapter 4, "How has the Constitution expanded over time?" in Our Constitution.
  • Address the following questions and be sure all of you know the answers.
    • Why wasn't the Bill of Rights included in the original Constitution?
    • What arguments prevailed for the creation of and the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution?
    • How would you summarize - in language easily accessible to secondary students - each of the first ten amendments?
    • How and why has the First Amendment been so controversal over the years?
    • What is the contemporary controversy about the Second Amendment.
    • How would you describe to secondary students what is and is not "cruel and unusual punishment."
    • At the time of its ratification, who would the Founders have considered the “people” referenced in the amendments? How and when did this change?
    • Do high school students have First Amendment rights? If yes, are there any constraints? If no, why not?
    • Of these ten amendments, which do you feel are most important for students to really understand? Why?
    • The tenth amendment is one few Americans know or understand. How would you explain it so that your students will understand it? Why is this amendment so important not only to U.S. history, but to understanding the political world in the 21st Century?
    • Of the remaining 17 amendments, choose three that you feel are most important for Americans to know about. Explain how and why each of the three are so important.
  • Finally, , complete the assignment that is due at the beginning of class:
    • Discuss and come to a consensual decision about the 5 most important things you should teach your students about your assigned section of the constitution. Be sure to include how and why one or more of your most important points is relevant to the constitutional conflict that we are currently facing. Write these down and provide a brief justification for each point.
    • Assign one person in your group to type them up and make six copies for the class discussion. You must include any discussion of debate and compromise that occurred while the Founders deliberated the Bill of Rights.