The Constitution

Basic law of the United States Provides a framework for government Symbol of American ideals and beliefs This is where the goals of the American government are included in the Constitution

The Preamble The introduction to the Constitution Identifies ideas that the government stands for States the purpose of the Constitution Expresses the idea that the people of the United States have the right to govern themselves

Six Goals to the Preamble To form a more perfect union (set up a stronger government) Establish justice (improve the court system) Ensure domestic tranquility (have peace in all States)

Provide for the common defense (protect the country from its enemies) Promote the general welfare (have good living conditions) Secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (have freedom for all and future Americans)

Group Activity You will be split into six groups and each group will have to answer the questions given to them.

Assignment Using the Preamble, you will be looking at some situations. All of these are things that the government does. You are going to be classifying the situations according to which purpose of government, listed in the Preamble, the action described helps to achieve. You will classify them using the following chart

The Preamble In order to form a more perfect union Establish Justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for common defense Promote general welfare Secure blessings of liberty

Here are the situations Fix those Potholes Watch Out for Those Burglars! Windmills on Every Home? Everything Has a Price! Care for Soldiers Fighting Terrorism Statue of Liberty Reopens! Help Is on its Way! Pressure on Students to Make the Grade! Still More Tests! Searching for a Cure. Riot in the Streets! That’s Not Fair! Keeping the Skies Safe

The Preamble In order to form a more perfect union Establish Justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for common defense Promote general welfare Secure blessings of liberty

Here are the situations again Fix those Potholes Watch Out for Those Burglars! Windmills on Every Home? Everything Has a Price! Care for Soldiers Fighting Terrorism Statue of Liberty Reopens! Help Is on its Way! Pressure on Students to Make the Grade! Still More Tests! Searching for a Cure. Riot in the Streets! That’s Not Fair! Keeping the Skies Safe

The Preamble In order to form a more perfect union Establish Justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for common defense Promote general welfare Secure blessings of liberty Windmills on Every home Everything has a price That’s not fair Watch out for burglars Riot in the streets Keeping the skies safe Care for Soldiers Fighting terrorism Fix those Potholes Help is on the way Searching for a cure Statue of Liberty reopens Pressure on students to make the grade Still more test