WARM UP In your notebook, copy the letters A through Z down the left side of your paper Take 5 minutes to brainstorm words or phrases for each letter that has to do with the US Constitution. ABCDEFABCDEF A-Amendment B-Bill of Rights C-Constitution

TOPICS OF THE DAY  1) The US Constitution is a living document.  2)How does the North Carolina Constitution compare to our US Constitution?

1 st Activity  US Constitution Human Scavenger Hunt 1)Pick up a scavenger hunt worksheet 2)Circulate around the room finding people who know the answers to the scavenger hunt questions 3)You must find a DIFFERENT person for each question. 4)Try to be the quickest TEAM to finish. ……GO!!!

A LIVING CONSTITUTION TAKE SOME NOTES

Why is the Constitution called a “living” document?

“THE CONSTITUTION WAS NOT MADE TO FIT US LIKE A STRAIGHTJACKET. IN ITS ELASTICITY LIES ITS CHIEF GREATNESS.” Woodrow Wilson

Amendment  Any change to the Constitution

ARTICLE 5: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION  Article 5:  The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress

Amendment Process 1)Proposal: - By a 2/3 vote in Congress - Or by a national convention 2)Ratification: - By ¾ of the states by a vote in each legislatures - Or by calling special state conventions

Interpreting the Constitution  Loose interpretation:  Congress should be allowed to make any laws not forbidden by the Constitution.  Strict interpretation:  Congress should only be able to make the kinds of laws that the Constitution mentions.

Necessary and proper clause:  Congress has the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.

TODAY’S CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES  Gun Control and the 2 nd Amendment  Death Penalty and Cruel and Unusual  Prayer in Schools 1 st Amendment  Censorship & Free Speech  Terrorism and Seize and Seizure rules – 4th  Term Limits for Congress  Campaign finance reform  Abortion and Due Process rights – 5th

Let’s Watch a VIDEO!  The Constitution is a Living Document The Constitution is a Living Document The Constitution is a Living Document

Comparing Constitutions Activity  Team Leaders, grab packets from the front.  Work with your teams to complete the worksheet asking questions about these two documents

Closure  Essential Question: How does the structure of the US and NC Constitutions balance government power with the will of the people?