We The People
Topic: United States Constitution – Preamble & Articles I, II, and III
(5th – 10th grade)
by Lodge
We The People
In Article I
We build a fancy legislature
of two-house bicameral nature
to control the budget
levy taxes and know that
only congress can declare war
The House and Senate work together to make laws
They’re an elastic power catch-all
They can impeach the president
Or Judges elected
Checks and balances we’ve seen them all
Chorus:
The Preamble says the power’s with the people
We the people won’t stop
With a more perfect union
Better than we’ve got
That establishes justice
In the courts among us
It’s popular and sovereign
When the people run the nation
Domestic tranquility
Keeps peace at home
And a common defense
Will keep our Army strong
While the general welfare
Helps the people with health care
Securing our liberty
For future generations
In Article II
An executive and the cabinet
Enforce a law, once they have it
The President is the Commander-In-Chief
If someone wants to start static
A term of 4 years in the White House
Select a cabinet, yea to help out
They can veto a law
Appoint a judge in the fall
Checks and balances we’ve seen them all
1,2,3 establish the branches of the government
1,2,3 separate the power of this government
1,2,3 limit the government
To what is written in the constitution
Is what to expect
In Article III
The Judicial Courts will spell it
Through District, Supreme, and Appellate
They interpret the laws
And give their final thoughts
Their precedent will hold it
Judges all get life appointments
The Constitution, they uphold it
With their Judicial to-do
Laws are always reviewed
Checks and balances, they’ll see them through
Student Lyric Guide
Name: ______________________
United States Constitution – Preamble & Articles I, II, and III
We The People
In Article I
We build a fancy legislature
Article I of the US Constitution establishes the __________________ Branch of
the government called ________________
of two-house bicameral nature
Congress has two houses
1. __________________
2. ____________________________________
How many Senators does each state have?
__________________
How many members of the House of Representatives does each state have?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Define a bicameral legislature:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
to control the budget
levy taxes and know that
only congress can declare war
The House and Senate work together to make laws
Powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution
1. _________________________
2. _________________________
3. _________________________
4. _________________________
5. _________________________
6. _________________________
They’re an elastic power catch-all
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
They can impeach the president
Or Judges elected
Checks and balances we’ve seen them all
What are checks and balances? Why are they essential?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Congress can _______________ and ______________Presidents and Federal
Judges.
The House of Representatives __________________ Presidents or Judges
The Senate ________________ Presidents or Judges
The Preamble:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States
of America.
The Preamble says the power’s with the people
We the people won’t stop
With a more perfect union
Better than we’ve got
That establishes justice
In the courts among us
It’s popular and sovereign
When the people run the nation
Domestic tranquility
Keeps peace at home
And a common defense
Will keep our Army strong
While the general welfare
Helps the people with health care
Securing our liberty
For future generations
Explain the following parts of the Preamble:
"We the people"
"a more prefect union"
"establish justice"
"domestic tranquility"
"common defense"
"general welfare"
"liberty to ourselves and our posterity"
In Article II
An executive and the cabinet
Article II of the US Constitution established the _________________Branch
headed by the _______________
Enforce a law, once they have it
The President is the Commander-In-Chief
If someone wants to start static
Powers given to the President in Article II of the Constitution
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________
A term of 4 years in the White House
Select a cabinet, yea to help out
How long is a presidential term?
_________________
They can veto a law
Appoint a judge in the fall
Checks and balances we’ve seen them all
What are the Presidential Checks and Balances?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
1,2,3 establish the branches of the government
1,2,3 separate the power of this government
1,2,3 limit the government
To what is written in the constitution
Is what to expect
Article I establishes the ____________________ Branch
Article II establishes the ______________________ Branch
Article III establishes the _________________________Branch
Define separation of power:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Define checks and balances:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Define limited government:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
In Article III
The Judicial Courts will spell it
Article III of the US Constitution established the _________________Branch
known as the _____________
__________System
Through District, Supreme, and Appellate
They interpret the laws
And give their final thoughts
Their precedent will hold it
Three levels of the Federal Court System:
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
Define precedent:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Judges all get life appointments
How does someone become a Federal Judge?
________________________________________________________________
Judges are appointed for ___________
The Constitution, they uphold it
With their Judicial to-do
Laws are always reviewed
Checks and balances, they’ll see them through
Explain the concept of Judicial Review:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Teacher Key
Name: _________KEY_______________
We The People
In Article I
We build a fancy legislature
Article I of the US Constitution establishes the ____________ Legislative
____________ Branch of the government called ____________ Congress
of two-house bicameral nature
Congress has two houses
1. Senate
2. House of Representatives
How many Senators does each state have?
Two
How many members of the House of Representatives does each state have?
Depends on the population of the state. California has 53 members of the
House. Rhode Island has 2 members of the House.
Define a bicameral legislature:
A law-making body that has two houses. The US Congress is a bicameral
legislature.
to control the budget
levy taxes and know that
only congress can declare war
The House and Senate work together to make laws
Powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution
1. Making Laws
2. Taxing and spending
3. Declaring war
4. Regulate trade
5. Establish a military
6. Necessary and Proper Clause
They’re an elastic power catch-all
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
It is a power granted to Congress in Article I that allows Congress the power to
create any law they deem necessary in order to carry out their Constitutional
duties
They can impeach the president
Or Judges elected
Checks and balances we’ve seen them all
What are checks and balances? Why are they essential?
Powers given to the three branches of government that given them power over
the other branches. They are essential so that one branch of government does
not get too powerful.
Congress can ________impeach and _________ remove Presidents and
Federal Judges.
The House of Representatives ________________impeaches Presidents of
Judges
The Senate _____________removes Presidents or Judges
The Preamble:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States
of America.
The Preamble says the power’s with the people
We the people won’t stop
With a more perfect union
Better than we’ve got
That establishes justice
In the courts among us
It’s popular and sovereign
When the people run the nation
Domestic tranquility
Keeps peace at home
And a common defense
Will keep our Army strong
While the general welfare
Helps the people with health care
Securing our liberty
For future generations
Explain the following parts of the Preamble:
"We the people"
This suggests something called Popular Sovereignty meaning the people are
going to be the ones in charge of this nation
"a more prefect union"
we are looking for a better government than the one we had in the Articles of
Confederation
"establish justice"
this Constitution will provide a fair court system to deal with problems in our new
country
"domestic tranquility"
the government will keep the people of this country safe, and will keep the
country stable
"common defense"
an army to fight off potential threats
"general welfare"
to take care of the people's basic needs within the country - needs like health
care for our elderly and children
"liberty to ourselves and our posterity"
This means that this strong central government will serve us, and will be around
long enough to serve and protect our children in future generations
In Article II
An executive and the cabinet
Article II of the US Constitution established the __________ Executive
_______Branch headed by the _______________President
Enforce a law, once they have it
The President is the Commander-In-Chief
If someone wants to start static
Powers given to the President in Article II of the Constitution
1. Sign and enforce laws from Congress
2. Appoint members of the Cabinet
3. Commander-in-chief of the military
A term of 4 years in the White House
Select a cabinet, yea to help out
How long is a presidential term?
4 years
They can veto a law
Appoint a judge in the fall
Checks and balances we’ve seen them all
What are the Presidential Checks and Balances?
The President is able to keep Congress in check by vetoing any law the they
pass, if it is deemed unjust to the people. This way, the President has power
over Congress and forces them to work together to make laws. Also, it is the
President's Constitutional right to appoint federal judges. This is a very important
power because federal judges interpret the laws that are made, and are
appointed for life.
1,2,3 establish the branches of the government
1,2,3 separate the power of this government
1,2,3 limit the government
To what is written in the constitution
Is what to expect
Article I establishes the ___________ Legislative _________ Branch
Article II establishes the _____________ Executive _________ Branch
Article III establishes the ______________Judicial ____________Branch
Define separation of power:
Dividing power between 3 branches so one branch was not responsible for the
well being of the nation/people.
Define checks and balances:
Powers given to the three branches of government that given them power over
the other branches
Define limited government:
All three branches of the government are limited to the powers written in the
Constitution. Other powers NOT expressly written in the constitution would be
left to the States or the People
In Article III
The Judicial Courts will spell it
Article III of the US Constitution established the _____________Judicial
____________Branch know as the ________ Federal ___________Court
__________System
Through District, Supreme, and Appellate
They interpret the laws
And give their final thoughts
Their precedent will hold it
Three levels of the Federal Court System:
1. District Courts - where cases are initially tried
2. Appellate Courts - where appeals are heard
3. The Supreme Court - cases dealing with Constitutional issues
Define precedent:
A ruling by a court that creates a new standard for other courts to base their
judgments.
Judges all get life appointments
How does someone become a Federal Judge?
Federal Judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress.
Judges are appointed for ___________ life
The Constitution, they uphold it
With their Judicial to-do
Laws are always reviewed
Checks and balances, they’ll see them through
Explain the concept of Judicial Review:
Congress can pass a law, the President can sign it, however if The Supreme
Court believes that the law is unconstitutional, then it will not be a law. This is a
checks and balances power given to the Judicial Branch called "Judicial Review."
Music Video Extension Activity
1. Hand out or project the lyrics and read them out loud and discuss their meaning
2. Play the song for the students, multiple times, encouraging them to sing along
3. Use the student lyric guide in place of, or to supplement class notes
4. Allow students class time, in small groups, to “act” out a portion of the song
5. Film the student groups singing/acting out the song