1. THE AMENDMENT PROCESS

2. The US Constitution IS and IS NOT the same document written in 1787.
Some Words have been eliminated, some have been added.
Explain how the document has changed from Have students open up their book to look at words crossed out. Ask “why is it different? How has it changed?”

3. Keys to help To amend means to change To propose means to suggest
To ratify means to approve or pass
2/3 will always apply to the federal Gov't
¾ will always apply to the states
Federal Gov't will always propose
States will always ratify
By having the federal government propose and the states ratify, what basic principle of the constitution is at work?

4. FORMAL AMENDMENT PROCESS
Process explained in Article V of the Constitution
Two Methods of Ratification
First-- Proposed by 2/3 of Congress/Ratified by ¾ of State Legislatures
26 of 27 Amendments adopted this way
Make sure to tell students that the first is most important! Make sure they star or highlight it.

5. 21st Amendment adopted this way (Repealing Prohibition)
Second—Proposed by 2/3 of Congress/Ratified by ¾ of special State Conventions
21st Amendment adopted this way (Repealing Prohibition)
Explain briefly what prohibition was.

6. PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Congress does not present a proposed amendment to the president for his signature or veto.
If congress presented proposed amendments to the president for veto, how many proposed amendments do you think he would have. Think about the process, why is that important?

7. Proposed Amendments Continued
States can change their minds if they first reject an amendment (not the opposite)
33 Made it to the states
10,000 Amendments proposed in Congress.
Only 27 finally ratified
Congress can set deadlines for the ratification time allowed
Explain in detail how states can change their mind only if they reject it first, not after they accept and then reject. No half-sies.
Why would congress set deadlines for ratification time allowed?

8. CONSTITUTIONAL BREAKDOWN
Preamble: States the purpose
Article I: Legislative Power – Congress
Elastic Clause, Also known as ?
Free Exercise Clause
Establishment Clause
Article II: Executive Power - President
Article III: Judicial Power – Courts
Article IV: Relations between the states
Article V: The Amendment Process
Tell students story about National Archives this summer – Security Guard

9. CONSTITUTIONAL BREAKDOWN
Article VI: General Provisions, Supremacy of the Constitution
Article VII: Ratification Process
Bill of Rights: First 10 Amendments in Constitution
Have students refresh my memory with the bill of rights

10. SUPREMACY CLAUSE Article VI, Section 2
If ever the state government and federal government conflict on an issue, the federal government reigns supreme
The Constitution is the highest form of law in the American legal system.

11. As a refresher… How many methods of Ratification are there?
What percentage is needed for an amendment to be proposed?
What percentage is needed for ratification?
How many amendments do we currently have today?
How many are in usage today?

12. HOMEWORK
Learning about the amendments helps you understand your freedom's.
Your homework tonight is to think about the amendments we have learned about and describe by writing an amendment that you would add to the Constitution.
What do you think is missing in this great country?
What impact would the Amendment have on society and our lives?
Please be school appropriate 