The U.S. Constitution

1. The U.S. Constitution

2.

It is rather for us to be here
dedicated to the great task
remaining before us […] – that
government of the people,
by the people, for the people,
shall not perish from the earth.
President Abraham Lincoln,
Gettysburg Address

3.

Give answers to these US Civics test questions.
What is the supreme law of the land?
What does the Constitution do?
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of
the Constitution. What are these words?
Who is the ‘Father of Our Country’?
Who was the first President?
What is an amendment?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitu
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
How many amendments are there to the Constitution?
What stops one branch of government from becoming
too powerful?

4.

The U.S. Constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. All other laws must follow
the Constitution. The Constitution defines the government and protects the
basic rights. The first three words of the Constitution are “We the People.”
This means that the power of the government comes from the people.
The Constitution was written in 1787 after the War of Independence. There
were 55 delegates in Philadelphia. They are called the Founding Fathers.
George Washington was their leader. He became the first President of the
United States. Americans call him the ‘Father of Our Country’.
Two years later, they wrote ten amendments. An amendment is a change to
the Constitution. These first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly,
and petition. Today, the Constitution has 27 amendments.
The Constitution divides the government into three branches. They have
separate and equal powers. The powers balance each other. No branch has
more power than the others. This is called “separation of powers.”

5. Match the freedoms from the 1st Amendment with their definitions

1. The government can't
define an official religion or
limit religious expression.
Freedom of Speech
2. The government can't
prohibit people to say
Freedom of
what they think.
Assembly
3. The government can't
control what the media
Freedom of Religion
writes.
4. People can meet and
Freedom of Press
protest.
5. People can ask the
Freedom of Petition

6. Match the freedoms from the 1st Amendment with their definitions

1. People can ask the
government to change
laws.
Freedom of Speech
2. The government can't
prohibit people to say
Freedom of
what they think.
Assembly
3. People can meet and
protest.
Freedom of Religion 4. The government can't
define an official religion or
Freedom of Press
limit religious expression.
5. The government can't
Freedom of Petition

7.

What are some examples of
democracy in your country?

8.

The Constitution explains
how the government works.
True!

9.

The Constitution was written
before the Declaration of
Independence.
False!

10.

The Constitution was written
in Washington D.C.
False!

11.

The Founding Fathers are the
first 55 Presidents of the U.S.
False!

12.

Americans call Jefferson
the ‘Father of Our Country’.
False!

13.

The ten Amendments were not
written the same day as the
Constitution.
True!

14.

There were originally 27
amendments to the
Constitution.
False!

15.

The First Amendment protects
five basic freedoms.
True!

16.

The U.S. government has two
branches.
False!

17.

The President is the most
powerful person in the
government.
False!

18.

Give answers to these US Civics test questions.
What is the supreme law of the land?
What does the Constitution do?
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of
the Constitution. What are these words?
Who is the ‘Father of Our Country’?
Who was the first President?
What is an amendment?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitu
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
How many amendments are there to the Constitution?
What stops one branch of government from becoming
too powerful?

19.

The U.S. Constitution
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. All other laws must follow
the Constitution. The Constitution defines the government and protects the
basic rights. The first three words of the Constitution are “We the People.”
This means that the power of the government comes the people.
The Constitution was written in 1787 after the War of Independence. There
were 55 delegates in Philadelphia. They are called the Founding Fathers.
George Washington was their leader. He became the first President of the
United States. Americans call him the ‘Father of Our Country’.
Two years later, they wrote ten amendments. An amendment is a change to
the Constitution. These first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly,
and petition. Today, the Constitution has 27 amendments.
The Constitution divides the government into three branches. They have
separate and equal powers. The powers balance each other. No branch has
more power than the others. This is called “separation of powers.”

20. Assignments

What did you learn this lesson?
Put your new knowledge into the ‘Now We Know’ section of the
group map and the ‘Now I Know’ section of your individual map
in the portfolio.
Work on the “We Are The Change’ part of your portfolio.
Work on the weekly chart of your portfolio.
Complete the mid-course US Civics self-assessment.