U.S. Constitution
And Government Unit
Packet
Name________________________________________________
Period_______________________________________________
1
Constitution/ Government Unit LGs and Scales
Learning Goal 9: Students will be able to explain the principles on which the U.S.
Constitution was founded.
- federalism (i.e., enumerated, reserved, and concurrent powers)
- popular sovereignty
- separation of powers
- individual rights
- checks and balances
- limited government
- flexibility (i.e., Elastic Clause, amendment process, living constitution)
- republicanism
- Supreme Law of the Land
Scale:
4
In addition to a 3
student was able to
explain and analyze
the principles on which
the U.S. Constitution
was founded.
3
2
1
Student was able to
explain the
principles on which
the U.S.
Constitution was
founded.
Student was able to
identify the
principles on which
the U.S.
Constitution was
founded.
Students was able to
partially identify the
principles on which
the U.S. Constitution
was founded.
Learning Goal 10: Students will be able to explain the powers of the three branches of
the federal government.
- Legislative Branch: Congress (makes laws)
- Executive Branch: President (enforces laws)
- Judicial Branch: Supreme Court (interprets laws, Marbury v. Madison)
- Electoral Process (popular vote and electoral college)
Scale:
4
In addition to a 3
student was able to
explain the powers of
the three branches of
the federal
government.
3
2
Student was able to
explain the powers
of the three
branches of the
federal government.
Student was able to
identify the powers
of the three
branches of the
federal government.
2
1
Student was able to
partially identify the
powers of the three
branches of the
federal government.
Learning Goal 11: Students will be able to explain rights protected by the Bill of Rights.
- Miranda v. Arizona - 5th Amendment
- Gideon v. Wainwright - 6th Amendment
- Adult vs. Juvenile justice
Scale:
4
3
In addition to a 3 student
was able to explain and
analyze rights protected
by the Bill of Rights.
2
Student was able
to explain rights
protected by the
Bill of Rights.
Student was able
to identify rights
protected by the
Bill of Rights.
1
Student was able to
partially identify the
rights protected by
the Bill of Rights.
Learning Goal 12: Students will be able to explain and compare federal, state, and local
government.
- county, city/ town, tribal
- Direct Democracy (initiative, referendum, recall process)
- law making process
Scale:
4
In addition to a 3
student was able to
analyze federal,
state, and local
government.
3
2
Student was able to
explain and compare
federal, state, and
local government.
Student was able to
identify and compare
federal, state, and
local government.
3
1
Student was able to
partially identify and
compare federal,
state, and local
government.
Practice 1: How to Read the Constitution
The Constitution is organized into 3 basic parts.
-Articles
-Sections
-Clauses
Example : Article I, Section 2, Clause 1, or I-2-1
ARTICLE I: Legislative Branch
Section 1. Legislative powers; in whom vested
All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which
shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 2. House of Representatives, how and by whom chosen Qualifications of a
Representative. Representatives and direct taxes, how apportioned. Enumeration.
Vacancies to be filled. Power of choosing officers, and of impeachment.
1.
The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year
by the people of the several States, and the elector in each State shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State
Legislature.
2.
No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five
years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when
elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
7 Articles of the Constitution
Article I- Legislative Branch (Congress)
Article II- Executive Branch (President)
Article III- Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
Article IV- Relations among the states
Article V- How to amend (change) the Constitution
Article VI- Supremacy of National Law, Oath of Office, National Debt
Article VII- Ratification of the Constitution
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Practice 1: Constitution Scavenger Hunt
Directions: Use the Constitution Handbook in your American History textbook (pages 266-297)
for this scavenger hunt.
1. What is the opening paragraph of the Constitution called?
2. Which Article deals with the Executive branch?
3. Who is the Chief Executive of the United States?
4. How many years is a term of office for the Chief Executive?
5. Give the article, section, and clause where you would find the qualifications to be Chief
Executive.
6. What are the 3 qualifications of the Chief Executive?
1)
2)
3)
7. What does section 4 of Article II talk about?
8. Which part of government is established in Article III?
9. In Article III, which section and clause has the areas of original jurisdiction this court?
10. What is the definition of treason according to the U.S. Constitution? (Article III)
11.How many Articles are there in the Constitution?
12. Which Article talks about the Legislative branch of government?
13. What is the name of the group that holds legislative power (make laws)?
14. Name the two houses of the Legislative branch (Congress).
1)
2)
15. Which article, section and clause of the Constitution gives the qualifications to be in the
House of Representatives?
5
16. What are the qualifications to be in the House of Representatives?
1)
2)
3)
17. Go to section 3, clause 4 of the article found in question 15 and tell who the President of
the Senate is.
18. What are the qualifications to be a Senator?
1)
2)
3)
19. What is the term of office for a member of the Senate?
20 What is a term of office for a member of the House of Representatives?
21. What does Article VI deal with in general?
22. In which article, section, and clause would you look to find out about the extradition of
suspected criminals?
23. At the time the Constitution was written, how many of the 13 states needed to approve of
the Constitution to get it ratified?
24. Which Article tells how to amend the Constitution?
25. What does the word amend mean?
26. How many times has the Constitution been amended?
27. Which amendment created a national income tax?
28. Which amendment outlines a citizen’s right not to be searched in an unreasonable way?
29. What is stated in the 1st Amendment?
30. What is stated in the last (27th) Amendment
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Practice 2: Preamble to the Constitution- LG 9
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LG 9- Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Principle
What is it?
Text p. 260-265
Why is it important?
Checks and
Balances
Flexibility
(Living Constitution)
Federalism
Individual Rights
Limited Government
Popular Sovereignty
Separation of Powers
Republicanism
8
LG 10-
House of
Congress
Article 1: Legislative Branch (Congress)
Main power/ role in the
federal government
Leadership
and number of
members
Senate
(Upper House)
House of
Representatives
(Lower House)
-
Congressional Committees:
9
Term
of
Office
in
years
Qualifications to be elected
to this House of Congress
LG 10- Article II- Executive Branch- President
10
.
Chief Executive
Main power/ role in the
federal government
Who else is in the
Executive Branch
besides the
President?
President of the
United States

Electing the President Text p. 276
11
Term
of
Office
in
years/
limits
Qualifications to be
elected
-
Electoral College:
-
12th Amendment:
-
23rd Amendment:

Washington’s Presidency
12
-
2 Terms/ 22nd Amendment-
-
State of the Union Address (speech) given to Congress each year.
-
Cabinet

Presidential Succession/ 25th Amendment
13
Homeland Security
14
LG 10- Article II- Judicial Branch- Supreme Court
Judicial Branch
Federal Courts
Main power/ role in the
federal government
What are the other
levels of federal
courts under the
Supreme Court?
Supreme Court
- 1 Chief
Justice
- 8 Associate
Justices
15
Term
of
Office
in
years/
limits
How does someone
become a Supreme
Court justice or Federal
court judge?

Marbury v. Madison and Judicial Review
16
LG 10 How a bill becomes a law

Text Page 270-271
17
18
LG 11- Bill of Rights
Amendment
A citizen’s right(s) that are protected
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
19
Famous Supreme Court Cases and the Bill of Rights
How a court case gets to the Supreme Court

Miranda v. Arizona

Gideon v. Wainwright
20
LG 12- State and local government.
Webquest- Use the links below to research and find the following information.
https://az.gov/government/arizona-government
http://www.maricopa.gov/
1. Who (position and name of the actual person holding this office) is the chief
executive of the state of AZ? What is their term of office?
2. What are the two houses of the state legislature? How many people make up
each house and how long is their term of office?
3. What are the different levels of state courts here in Arizona? How does
someone become a state judge?
4. How is the structure and organization of Arizona’s state government similar to
the federal government? How is it different?
5. How many counties does Arizona have?
6. Which county do you live in?
7. Name the people elected to your county board of supervisors.
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