1. Structure and Purposes of
Government
Unit 2

2. 2.1
The Constitution

3. Task Focus #1: What was the importance of Shays’ Rebellion?
How would the government react to something like this happening
today?

4. The Constitutional Convention
 By 1787, Congress knew
that there were serious
problems with the Articles
of Confederation.
 Each state sent delegates
to a convention in
Philadelphia to amend the
Articles of
Confederation.(Rhode
Island sent no one because
they opposed a stronger
central government.)

5. The Constitutional Convention
 May 25, 1787, 55 men
gathered in Philadelphia
at Independence Hall.
 George Washington was
unanimously chosen to be
the chairman (president)
of the convention.
 The meetings were kept
secret in order for the
debates to happen freely.

6. The Constitutional Convention
 The delegates decided that the U.S. needed a new
constitution because the Articles were beyond repair.
Now the meeting was called the Constitutional
Convention.

7. Reading and Responding –
“Freedom: How We Got It”
 Read the article “Freedom: How We Got It” and
answer the following questions on a separate sheet of
paper:
1. How did the British and Americans view the taxes
and laws differently prior to the American
Revolution?
2. List the problems stated by this article with the
Articles of Confederation.
3. What 2 basic ideas did the framers of the new
Constitution believed should be at the center of the
new Constitution?
4. What was the purpose of the author for writing this
article?

8. If Shay did not cause a rebellion, do you think
the US would have ever rewritten the Articles
of Confederation into the Constitution?
Discuss your answer in detail. (5 sentences)
Learning Log #1

9. 2.2
Compromises and the U.S. Constitution

10. Task Focus #2
Discuss the two groups of people mentioned in the video. What did
each want? What was the outcome?

11. What does the term federalism mean?
• A form of government in which power is divided
between the federal, or national, government and
the states

12. Conventional Compromises
 Delegates to the Constitutional Convention arrived
with varying ideas and plans of government which
meant that compromises would be necessary to reach
agreement.
 James Madison proposed the Virginia Plan as a new
form of government. The Virginia Plan called for a
government with three branches( executive, legislative,
and judicial). The legislature would be divided into 2
houses and representation determined by population.
 The New Jersey Plan called for 3 branches of
government. The legislature would have only one house
with each state receiving one vote.

13. Conventional Compromises
 Read pages 55-58 in your textbook
1. What was the Great Compromise? Explain the
parts of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans that
were included in the Great Compromise.
2. What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Explain why Southern and Northern states
disagreed on how to count the population within
the states.
3. Why did Southern states at first oppose giving
Congress the power to regulate trade?
4. How is the electoral college used to elect the
president?

14. Constitutional Compromises Mind
Map
 Students will create a Mind Map dealing with the
Compromises to the Constitution.
 The Great Compromise
 3/5th Compromise
 Electoral College Compromise
 For your Mind Map you must include:
 The definition of the compromise
 A central title for your Mind Map (Constitutional
Compromises)
 Three subtitles for each compromise
 All parts of the compromise
 One picture that depicts each compromise
 Who was involved in the compromise
 Any other facts you can find

15. Task Focus #3
 What types of government did Federalists and Anti-
Federalists prefer?”

16. Conventional Compromises
 Ratification required at least 9 of 13 states to vote yes.
The public reacted differently once hearing about the
Constitution.
 Federalists supported the Constitution because they
supported the new system of federalism created by the
Constitution.
 Anti-Federalists opposed the new government because of
the strong central government.

17. Would you have been on the side of the
Federalist/Anti-Federalist? Explain why? (5
Sentences)
Learning Log #2

18. 2.3
Structure of the Constitution

19. Task Focus #4
 What do the three words “We the people” mean at the
start of the Constitution?”

20. The Constitution
 The Constitution is a remarkable document. The
Constitution is a short document that is flexible. Its
flexibility allows for the changes that have occurred over
200 years.
 The Constitution is the framework of government and the
highest authority in the land.
 The Constitution was a basic law, power of the 3 branches
of government comes from the Constitution. The
Constitution is the basic structure of the U.S. government
 The Constitution has 3 parts:
 1. the Preamble
 2. 7 Articles that describe the structure of government
 3. 27 Amendments – changes or additions to the Constitution

21. If you were the writer of the
constitution, would you have structured it the
way our founding fathers did? Tell me why or
why not. (5 sentences)
Learning Log #3

22. 2.4
The Preamble

23. Task Focus #5
Anticipation Guide
1. The Preamble states that the power of government comes
from only a few people that will have control and keep
control once the Constitution is signed
2. Establish justice means to arrest and prosecute
criminals.
3. Every United States citizen should have equal protection
of the law.
4. The government should work to settle disputes between
individuals and groups of individuals.
5. Americans have a duty to ensure that rights and liberties
stated in the Constitution are passed on to the next
generation of United States citizens.
You have 3 minutes to use the knowledge that you already have in order
to answer each statement as either TRUE or FALSE.

24. Copy this chart into your notes
Preamble Phrases Explanation
we the people (sovereignty)
form a more perfect union
promote the general welfare
ensure domestic tranquility
establish justice
provide for the common
defense
secure the blessings of liberty

25. Preamble
1. “Form a more perfect Union” – to unite the states
more effectively so they can operate as a single
nation, for the good of all.
2. “We the People” – that the people of the United
States have created and will be in control of the
government
3. “Promote the general Welfare” – to help people live
healthy, happy, and prosperous lives
4. “insure domestic tranquility” – to maintain peace
and order, keeping citizens and their property safe
from harm

26. Preamble
5. “provide for the common defense” – to be ready
militarily to protect the country and its citizens
from outside attacks
6. “secure the Blessings of Liberty” – to guarantee the
freedom and basic rights of all Americans including
future generations
7. “establish justice” – to create a system of fair laws
and courts and make certain that all citizens are
treated equally

27. Name, describe, and tell the importance of one
of the phrases to the Preamble.
Learning Log #4

28. 2.5
The Articles

29. Task Focus #6
 Define the following word in your own words:
Expressed, Concurrent, Reserved.

30. Parts of the Constitution
 The first 3 Articles of the Constitution describe the powers
and responsibilities of each branch of government.
 Article I – the Legislative branch is made of 2 houses –
Senate and House of Representatives – has lawmaking
authority.
 The specific powers of Congress are they may collect taxes,
regulate foreign and interstate trade, coin money, and
declare war.

31. Parts of the Constitution
 Article I
 “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper”
 The necessary and proper clause allows Congress
to exercise powers that are not specifically listed
in the Constitution.

32. Parts of the Constitution
 Article II the Executive Branch lead by a president and
vice president, Executive Branch is in charge of all armed
forces and foreign affairs.
 Article III the Judicial Branch interprets laws including
cases involving the Constitution, federal laws and
treaties, and disputes between states.

33. Parts of the Constitution
 Article IV stated the states must respect other state
laws and the process of admitting new states.
 Article V specifies how amendments (changes) are to
be made.
 Article VI states the Constitution is “the supreme law
of the land.” Any conflict between state and federal law
would have the federal law prevail.
 Article VII said the Constitution would take effect
when 9 of 13 states ratified the Constitution.

34. Expressed Powers Reserved Powers
Concurrent Powers

35. Federalism – National vs. the States
 Read the article “The Question of States' Rights: The
Constitution and American Federalism” and answer
the following questions….
1. Explain how the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of
the Constitution is an example of federalism.
2. List 4 reasons why the Anti-Federalists opposed the
Constitution.
3. How is the Supreme Court of the U.S. is an example of
federalism? Give examples.

36. Describe the most important expressed power
and why that power is given to the federal
government. Why do the federal and state
governments share concurrent powers? Why
are some powers reserved only for the states
and denied to the federal government? Why
are some powers given to the federal
government and not to the states?
Learning Log #5

37. 2.6
The Bill of Rights

38. Task Focus #7
 What does “freedom of speech” mean to you?

39. Copy this into your notes
1st Amendment
Freedom of
Speech
Freedom of
Religion
Freedom of
the Press
Freedom to
Assembly
Freedom to
Petition the
Government

40. Pretend you were a classmate of Joseph
Frederick. What would your reaction have
been to seeing his banner? What do you think
should have been done about it? Do you agree
with what was done? How do you feel about
the Supreme Court Ruling? Would you have
supported your classmate or not?
Learning Log #6

41. Task Focus #8
 What do you think about the 2nd Amendment? What
do you think the writers meant originally by the
wording of the 2nd Amendment?
 2nd Amendment - Right to keep and bear arms in
order to maintain a well regulated militia

42. 2nd Amendment
3rd Amendment
4th Amendment
5th Amendment

43. 6th Amendment
7th Amendment
8th Amendment
9th Amendment
10th Amendment

44. 2nd Amendment – The Right to Bear
Arms
 Watch the video and answer the following questions:
1. How has the role of militia groups changed over the
years?
2. According to the U.S. Constitution, all citizens have
the right to bear arms. What restrictions exist that
make it difficult to own a gun?
3. Are the restrictions put on guns by the government an
infringement of our 2nd Amendment rights?
4. What are the benefits of these restrictions?

45. Pick one amendment and write a paragraph
about why that was an important amendment
to add to the constitution.
Learning Log #7

46. 2.7
The Other Amendments

47. Amendments 11-27
 Amendment 11 establishes judicial limits.
 Amendment 12 outlines the process for
electing the President and Vice President.
 Amendment 13 abolishes slavery.
 Amendment 14 describes the privileges of
citizenship.
 Amendment 15 states that the right to vote
shall not be denied on account of race.
 Amendment 16 gives Congress the power to
collect income taxes.
 Amendment 17 establishes the election of
Senators by popular vote.
 Amendment 18 prohibited the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors.
 Amendment 19 states that the right to vote
shall not be denied on account of sex.
 Amendment 20 sets the beginning of
congressional and presidential terms of
office.
 Amendment 21 repeals the eighteenth
amendment.
 Amendment 22 defines presidential term
limits.
 Amendment 23 gives presidential voting
rights to the District of Columbia.
 Amendment 24 states that the right to vote
shall not be denied on account of any poll
tax.
 Amendment 25 delineates presidential
succession.
 Amendment 26 establishes the right to vote
at age eighteen years or older.
 Amendment 27 limits congressional pay
increases.

48. Based on all of the Amendments we have
discussed which one do you think we could not
live without and then which one do you think
we could live without. Discuss your answer.
Learning Log #8