THE PREAMBLE
LESSON PLAN
AND ACTIVITY
Subjects:
Duration: 1 class session
Description: This lesson explores the purpose of the Preamble to the United States Constitution, and asks students to create their own Preamble.
Goals:
ISBE Standards:
·
14A: Understand
and explain basic principles of the United States government.
·
14B: Understand
the structures and functions of the political systems of Illinois, the United
States and other nations.
·
14C: Understand
election processes and responsibilities of citizens.
·
14D: Understand
the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups in the political
systems of Illinois, the United States and other nations.
·
16A: Apply the
skills of historical analysis and interpretation.
·
16B: Understand
the development of significant political events.
2. Language Arts
· 1A: Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.
· 1B: Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.
· 1C: Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.
· 3A: Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization and structure.
· 3B: Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences.
· 3C: Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.
· 4A: Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
· 4B: Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
1. Understand the basic history of the United States Constitution;
2. Identify the purpose and meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution; and
3. Develop a student Preamble;
Materials:
1. Paper
2. Pens
Instruction and Activities:
Preamble to the
United States Constitution:
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.
Preamble to the
Constitution of the State of Illinois:
We, the People of
the State of Illinois – grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and
religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing
upon our endeavors – in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of
the people; maintain a representative
and orderly government; eliminate
poverty and inequality; assure legal,
social and economic justice; provide
opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and
liberty to ourselves and our posterity – do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the State of Illinois.
Prior to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the American colonies operated as independent states answering to the greater power of Britain. However, in the Declaration of Independence, the colonies referred to themselves as “one people,” “united colonies,” and “the United States of America” for the first time. Because the colonies declared themselves united, they needed to work quickly to form a united government structure under which they could collectively operate. The resulting governmental document was known as the Articles of Confederation. The Articles gave most powers to the states, and gave limited authority to a weak central Congress.
As a result of the colonies’ original preference for states’ individual rights, the colonies did not establish as strong, central government to bind them. The states and their residents experienced extreme economic and other difficulties. For example, a group of farmers in western Massachusetts formed a rebellion called Shays’ Rebellion to attempt to gain some control over personal debt and economic crisis. Also, the British disregarded their treaties with the states, the states suffered increased attacks from Native Americans, and the Spanish started making movements along the western and southern borders.
Recognizing the need for change, leaders of each state called for a constitutional convention to balance state sovereignty and a strong federal government. The result was the current US Constitution. The US Constitution is clearly an act of the people of the United States as opposed to an act of the states themselves in their political capacities. This sentiment can be seen in the first line of the Preamble to the US Constitution – “WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America . . .” Where previous actions between the states were considered as treaties between independent states, the Constitution is a document directing a confederation of states as a government for the people and by the people. Each line of the Preamble directs the reader as to the purpose of the Constitution, and reminds the reader that this Constitution is not applicable to thirteen independent states, but is for the people of the United States of America.
Q: What is the purpose of a preamble?
A: The purpose of a preamble is to establish the nature, extent and application of powers conferred within a constitution. A preamble does not create powers, and is not a source of any implied powers. It is more similar to an introductory paragraph to an essay.
Activity
1. Divide the class into four to five groups. Discuss the difference between the contents of a state constitution versus a federal constitution. While a federal constitution would cover subjects including national defense, due process, interstate commerce, and foreign relations, a state constitution would cover subjects specific to the state such as property rights, education, and intrastate commerce.
2. Every twenty years, the State of Illinois has the opportunity to review and rewrite its constitution. Illinois is due for a constitutional convention in 2010. Have students imagine that they are either a) at a state constitutional convention to rewrite the state constitution; or b) at a federal constitutional convention (subject to the teacher’s discretion). Each student group is charged with rewriting the relevant Preamble. The students should not have the relevant preamble in front of them for reference while they are writing. The students’ preamble must reflect the mood and intent of the country/state, and it must reflect what will be contained in the new constitution.
3. Students should contemplate important symbols, issues, and events of the country/state, and should include those issues in the preamble, just as the original framers of the US Constitution had to include the issues of unity and federalism in the US Constitution Preamble. The structure of the Preamble to the US Constitution can be used as a template for student preambles.
4. Compare and contrast the students’ preambles. Work together as one large group to mesh the small group preambles into one preamble that is acceptable to all of the students.
5. Compare and contrast the final student preamble to the State and Federal Preambles. How similar are they? Does the student preamble reflect different concerns than the State and Federal Preambles? What changed? Do the students see the State and Federal Preambles as still being relevant? Why? Why not?
6. Have students sign a copy of their revised state preamble and send it to their Illinois House and Senate representatives as a suggestion for the next Illinois Constitutional Convention.
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2005 Citizen Advocacy Center. All
rights reserved. No part of this lesson
plan may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior, written
permission of the Citizen Advocacy Center. The Citizen Advocacy Center is
a 501(c)(3) non-pofit, non-partisan community based legal organization. For
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www.citizenadvocacycenter.org,
call 630.833.4080. The Center is located at 238 N. York Rd., Elmhurst IL 60126