The Constitution
The Essential Questions Handbook © 2011 by Q2AMedia, Scholastic Teaching Resources
The United States Constitution
embodies the American values of selfgovernment, distributed powers, and
individual freedoms. How it came to be,
the type of government it provides, how
it continues to sustain a powerful nation,
and how it serves as a model for others
are important aspects worth exploring.
The constitution of a nation is a document that provides organization and
structure for its government.
The constitutions of democratic governments describe the rights and
responsibilities of citizens.
The Constitution of the United States is a living document that helps define the
roles and responsibilities of the government.
The Constitution establishes a government of limited powers shared among
different branches of government.
The Constitution provides a strong guarantee of the rights of citizens.
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights have created a successful government
that has been a model for other countries.
Vocabulary List
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Amendment
House of Representatives
Senate
Bill of Rights
Judicial
Separation of powers
Branches of government
Legislative
Supreme Court
Checks and balances
Liberty
Unalienable
Executive
Preamble
Social Studies
Essential Questions
Use these questions to guide student exploration of the United States Constitution.
• What drives people to seek independence?
• What steps did colonists take to form a government?
The Essential Questions Handbook © 2011 by Q2AMedia, Scholastic Teaching Resources
• How does the U.S. Constitution reflect the people and times it came from?
• What beliefs about democracy are expressed in the Constitution?
• How does the Constitution provide for the rights of citizens?
• Why does the Constitution separate the powers of government?
• What key powers does each branch have?
• What is meant by “checks and balances”?
• Why do we have a Bill of Rights?
• Why do human rights need to be protected?
• Why is the Preamble to the Constitution important?
• Why can the Constitution be called a “living document”?
• Why might another country want to copy the United States Constitution?
Add your own questions!
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