Today's Current Event:
The Constitution as a Guide for Civic Engagement
What Can Young People Do?
Current events provide opportunities to discuss our role in civil society and to decide whether and how to get involved. At Learning to Give, we want to help students learn about and practice taking action for the common good. Look here for current ideas to involve your students' voice and action to make a difference.
The Constitution as a Guide for Civic Engagement
With the current focus on impeachment and elections, we are hearing differing ideas about the structure of government, as well as rights and responsibilities spelled out in the Constitution. The following teaching and learning resources may guide discussions with youth using primary documents.
Provocative Questions for Investigation:
- What are the rights and responsibility of Citizenship?
- How does one participate in Civic Life?
- How does Rule of Law apply to the Constitution?
Background: What Does the Constitution Say?
The Constitution of the United States, adopted in 1787 and put into effect in 1789, is the document on which the system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions and limits of the government of the United States is recorded. The Constitution is made up of these sections:
- Preamble
- Articles 1-7
- Each Article contains numbered sections
- Each numbered section contains numbered paragraphs
- Amendments
- Bill of Rights (Amendments I through X)
- Civil War Amendments (Amendments 13-15)
- Other amendments
Constitutional principles:
- the rule of law
- separation of powers
- representative government
- checks and balances
- individual rights
- freedom of religion
- federalism
- civilian military control
Fundamental American beliefs include the right to life, liberty, economic freedom and pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government is to protect these rights and it may not place unfair or unreasonable restraints on their exercise. In addition to basic rights, America shares belief in the common good, justice, equality, religious freedom, diversity, truth, popular sovereignty and patriotism (Center for Civic Education).
Primary Documents:
Give students access to the full text of these historical documents to analyze and discuss.
The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription
The National Archives online provides full access to the text of the Constitution. The text is a transcription of the Constitution as it was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflect the original. We can read the exact words of this historic document that informs the laws, government structure, and principles of the United States of America.
The Federalist Papers
These papers give us a glimpse inside the minds of the Founding Fathers as the Constitution was being ratified. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays -- written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison and published under the nom de plume Publius -- that range in topics from executive power to the size of government, checks and balances to the economy, and taxation for defense.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the definition and traits of a Representative Democracy?
- Is it a privilege or responsibility to vote?
- Is it a privilege or responsibility to take voluntary action for the common good?
- The Founding Fathers warned against domestic partisan factions in the Federalist Papers numbers 9 and 10. What problem did they say two parties could create?
- How could a focus on “the common good” decrease bi-partisan fighting?
- What does the Constitution say about impeachment? (Article II, Section 4) Why did the framers include this in the Constitution? If it is in the Constitution, is it treason to start impeachment proceedings? Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were two presidents who were impeached for abuse of the public trust. They were not removed from office.
- What can young people do to raise awareness of the language of the Constitution or the value of the common good?
- How does strict vs. loose interpretations of the Constitution impact interpretation of Presidential or Elected Official behavior?
Lesson Plans that explore the Constitution and our roles as citizens of the U.S.
- Roles, Rules, and the Constitution of the U.S. (grades K-2) Students learn how the Constitution relates to rules and community roles. This lesson is designed for Citizenship/Constitution Day (September 17) and connects students to improving their community for the good of all.
- What Does the Constitution Say about Philanthropy? (grades 3-5) Students explore the components of the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution and apply them to their own lives, with a particular emphasis on philanthropy. This lesson is designed for Citizenship/Constitution Day (September 17) and connects students to the community-building focus of the Constitution and how it relates personally to their lives and action.
- Philanthropy Found in the U.S. Constitution (grades 6-8) Students identify the components and rationale behind the Constitution, with a particular emphasis on philanthropy. This lesson is designed for Citizenship/Constitution Day (September 17) and connects students to the community-building focus of the Constitution and how it relates personally to their lives and action.
- U.S. Constitution: Significance and Structure (grades 9-12) Students identify key events in U.S. history and the magnitude of the Constitution in context, with a particular emphasis on philanthropy. This lesson is designed for Citizenship/Constitution Day (September 17) and connects students to the historical significance of the Constitution and how it relates personally to their lives and action.
Other Learning to Give Resources
- Federalist Papers and Philanthropy: This paper provides an overview of the Federalist Papers and their connection to the principles of citizen engagement. Providing a glimpse inside the minds of the Founding Fathers, the Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that explain the intentions of the framers of the Constitution of 1787, the document that shaped civic and social life for the next 230+ years.
- Video Clip and Discussion Guide - What Is Philanthropy? While philanthropy is deeply embedded in U.S. society and practice, many people do not know the word or understand its full meaning. Share this 1-minute video and use the question and activity guide to start a discussion of the many forms of philanthropy in practice.
- Video Clip and Discussion Guide - Philanthropy and the Government In all countries, there is a balance of what needs are addressed by government, by business, and the nonprofit sector. In the U.S. because of the good philanthropy does for all, there are tax benefits for nonprofits and for people who donate to philanthropy.
More lessons Related to the Constitution and Our Role as Citizens
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Using Dystopian Novels to Explore Our Rights
Many literature classes assign books that creatively envision the horrors of a future society where certain rights have been lost. Books like The Hunger Games, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 help us appreciate the rights and responsibilities we have secured in our Bill of Rights. Not all people in the world have these rights.
Expand critical thinking and raise awareness of the Bill of Rights by asking students to compare the rights outlined in the Bill of Rights to the rights lost in the stories. Sample questions for analysis:
- Do the characters have free speech and right to a fair trial?
- Do they have choice of religion and the ability to question their government?
- Compare their life to life in the U.S. /Compare life in the book to life in a current country with limited rights.
Edutopia Article about Using Dystopian Tales
Additional Teaching Resources
Help your students evaluate the roles of media, bias, facts, and critical thinking related to current events and controversial topics: Media Literacy Tips
