Constitution USA
Episode #1: A More Perfect Union
1.
In what year was the Constitution written?
2. What is meant by “federalism?”
3. Where does Peter Sagal begin his search for the Constitution?
4.
What types of things is “medicinal marijuana” prescribed for?
5. Who is Akhil R. Amar?
6. What was the first framework for American government drafted in 1777?
7. Whose idea was it to scrap the Articles of Confederation in favor of a new Constitution?
8. Why were many delegates skeptical about creating a strong central government?
9.
What is the significance of the “supremacy clause?”
10. Do you agree with Abraham Lincoln’s belief that secession was illegal?
11. Why did Peter Sagal travel to Missoula, Montana?
12. How many guns does the average gun owning family in Montana own?
13. What does the Second Amendment guarantee?
14. What was the first state to give women the right to vote?
15. What is the only state where prostitution is legal?
16. What is your favorite aspect of Peter Sagal’s custom made Harley?
17. Who built the Hoover Dam?
18. Who launched a program called “The New Deal?”
19. What happened in Little Rock, Arkansas on September 4, 1957?
20. Why was President Eisenhower ambivalent about enforcing Civil Rights?
21. Who is Minnijean Brown?
22. Was the federal government justified in protecting the members of the Little Rock Nine?
23. Why does Peter Sagal visit a “toilet expert?”
24. What is the significance of the Wickard v. Filburn case?
25. How do you feel about the relationship between the delegated powers of the federal
government and the reserved powers of the states?
Constitution USA
Episode #2: It’s a Free Country
1.
Who are the Arizona Leathernecks?
2.
What is the significance of the City Tavern in Philadelphia?
3.
Why does Richard Beeman believe that a Bill of Rights was not included in the original
Constitution?
4.
Who is famous for the quote, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”?
5. What are the “big three” freedoms?
6.
Which Amendment guarantees the “right to bear arms?”
7. How does Akhil R. Amar answer the question, “Are we a free country?” How would you answer
that question?
8.
Why do members of the Westboro Baptist Church stage their protests at the funerals of
American military personnel?
9. Why were the Westboro Baptists sued by the father of a dead Marine?
10. How did the Supreme Court rule in the Westboro case? Do you agree with the Court’s
decision?
11. Why was Eugene Debs sentenced to ten years in prison?
12. What does the 6th Amendment guarantee?
13. What did Clarence Earl Gideon ask for after being arrested?
14. Should the prayer banner at Cranston High School have been forced to come down? Explain.
15. Who is Jessica Ahlquist?
16. What is meant by a “wall of separation” between church and state?
17. Which president established “In God We Trust” as our nation’s motto?
18. Which amendment is intended to protect property rights?
19. Explain the concept of “eminent domain.”
20. Should ordinary citizens be free to own AK 47s?
21. Which amendment was designed to protect our privacy?
22. Is social media the death of the 4th Amendment? Share your thoughts.
23. What city is home to the largest Somali community in the country?
24. At the end of this episode, what does Peter Sagal say may be our nation’s most basic right?
25. What does it mean to you to be “free?”
Constitution USA
Episode #3 – Created Equal
1.
Which Amendment is at the heart of just about every hot button issue in America?
2.
How does Akhil R. Amar believe that the 14th Amendment remade our country?
3. True or false? The 14th Amendment has been cited in more court cases than any other
amendment.
4. Who were some of the Radical Republicans that became the “New Founding Fathers” after the
Civil War?
5. Who spearheaded the 13th Amendment?
6.
What was the significance of the Dred Scott decision?
7.
True or false? Everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen.
8.
What did Proposition 8 do?
9. What does the Constitution say about marriage?
10. What landmark case linked marriage and the 14th Amendment?
11. Why did the Loving’s sue the state of Virginia?
12. According to legal scholar Robert George, why was the 14th Amendment written?
13. What types of inequality does the 14th Amendment permit?
14. What is the significance of the 15th Amendment?
15. What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 do?
16. True or false? In Kentucky, convicted felons cannot vote.
17. How many convicted felons are prevented from voting in the United States?
18. How did Tanya Fogle lose her right to vote?
19. What does Michelle Alexander mean when she says that we live in the age of “mass
incarceration?”
20. What is “affirmative action?”
21. Why did Frank Ricci sue the city of New Haven?
22. How do you feel about the children of illegal immigrants attending public schools?
23. What landmark case legalized abortions?
24. What is meant by “economic liberty?”
25. Why were the monks at Saint Joseph’s in Louisiana told that they could no longer make coffins?
26. How did Akhil R. Amar become a U.S. citizen? What brought Amar’s parents to America?
27. Among developed nations which two countries offer “birthright citizenship?”
Constitution USA
Episode #4 – Built to Last
1. True or false? The Constitution has survived for more than 225 years.
2. What country does Peter Sagal visit as this segment begins? Why?
3. Which former U.S. President believed that each generation should give the Constitution a
complete makeover?
4. Which article of the Constitution outlines the amendment process?
5. Who is Claressa Shields?
6. In 1973, how many women played high school sports?
7. Today, how many women play high school sports?
8. What was the ERA?
9. What did Title IX do?
10. Why did the Constitution create a “divided” government?
11. Why did Richard Nixon resign in August of 1974?
12. How many justices serve on the Supreme Court?
13. What is meant by “original intent?”
14. Why did the government arrest Adam Bah?
15. Has the executive office gone too far in fighting the war on terror? Explain.
16. Why do several states want the state of Illinois to block the Chicago River?
17. Why did George Washington dislike political parties?
18. Who is Barney Frank?
19. Why does Barney Frank believe that the legislature is such a mess?
20. Where does the term “gerrymandering” come from?
21. What does “gerrymandering” involve?
22. Why do some people believe that money has corrupted our constitutional system?
23. What is ‘the Torah?”
24. Do you believe that the Constitution is a “living document?” Explain.
25. How can “We the People” make the Constitution more perfect?
26. Where is the Constitution housed?
27. How many pages is the Constitution written on?
28. Is our Constitution built to last? How long do you think it will endure?