BRIONESLESSON: The Principles of the Constitution

​The Principles of the Constitution

By the end of class today, I will be able to define the principles in my own words and give an example from the Constitution of where that principle is taking place.

Objective: We will identify how the Constitution reflects the principles listed in your booklet.

identify how the Texas Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights

Read a little, talk a little, answer a question.

You will need your little booklet.

We will begin by reviewing our previous principles of the Constitution.

We will read and listen to information from me. Then I will ask you to answer a short question with your buddy. Then the next slide will repeat the question and you will answer it by yourself according to your conversation.

Popular Sovereignty

According to your notes about popular sovereignty, think and then share with your buddy, where does the government get it's power from? In other words who holds that power and can take it back?

Open Ended

In a complete sentence, where does the power to govern the state come from or originate?

​​Subheader

​What do these images have in common? How do you put limits on these?

Limited Government

According to your notes in your little booklet, look for the three ways that the Constitution limits the power of our leaders? Share with your partner when you are instructed to...

Open Ended

In a complete sentence, what is ONE way that the Constitution limits the power of our leaders?

​The Constitution allows each state to have its own government, for the people there. This is called Federalism.

​​50 Individual states make their laws

​The Federal government makes laws for the whole country. But some people feel they make too many laws beyond their reach. Does the Constitution limit this reach?

​​Washington DC makes laws

​Washington DC vs The STATES

The STATES vs Washington DC

​The powers not delegated (given/assigned) to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved (BELONG TO OR set apart ) to the States respectively, or to the people.

ONE MORE WAY TO LIMIT THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT:

How does the 10th amendment limit the power of the federal government? Locate the 10th amendment in the Bill of Rights. I am pointing to it on the poster.

The 10th amendment--the difficult amendment

​Delegated means listed, assigned, enumerated--listed, not secret in a secret little book somewhere else. This means that the government doesn't have all the power, only what the Constitution SPECIFICALLY SAYS.

​Look at Article 1 Section 8: THE CONGRESS SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO... These are the listed (or enumerated--assigned)powers of Congress.

​Questions

What does delegated mean?

What does reserved mean?

Where are the powers of Congress specifically listed?

Multiple Choice

What does "delegated" mean?

• Belonging to or assigned specifically

• unusual or strange

Multiple Choice

What does reserved mean?

• When something belongs specifically to something or someone

• Anyone can take it

Multiple Choice

Where are the powers of Congress enumerate, or listed very specifically?

• Article 1 Section 8

• Article 2

• Article 3

• Article 4

The 10th amendment is like a...?

What is the 10th amendment ?

Think about how you would explain the 10th amendment to a student who could not read or hear but could only understand pictures. Without using any words, draw a little sketch about what the 10th amendment does to the power of the federal government

Now, talk with your buddy how you would explain it.

Why is separation of powers important?

​Without a system to prevent one branch of government from having more power over another, the government would be controlled by one group of people. It would not be fair to the people of the United States if one branch had more power over another. This system is intended to prevent tyranny.

Open Ended

Why is separation of powers important?

Remember our objective is to give an example of each principle where it is found in the Constitution: Where do I find the separation of powers in the Constitution?

​Look at Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

The separation of powers is found whenever I look at the three articles or sections. Each one describes what that branch can do. Find them now. (50 seconds)

What is tyranny?

Tyranny is not something we wanted when we became a new country

1. This system is intended to prevent tyranny.

What is tyranny?

Think, write, talk then..

Open Ended

According to these images, what does tyranny mean in your own words?

​The principle of checks and balances--review your notes about what is checks and balances? Get ready for a question.

Fill in the Blanks

The president can

, or cancel the laws made by the legislative branch.

Fill in the Blanks

If the Supreme Court declares a law to be

, that means that the law is against the Constitution, and it is cancelled.

Match

Match the following

• We the People

• Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

• The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

• Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it,

• Delegated or enumerated powers

Popular Sovereignty

Separation of powers

Limited Government

Checks and Balances

The Congress Shall have the power to...

• Popular Sovereignty

• Separation of powers

• Limited Government

• Checks and Balances

• The Congress Shall have the power to...

Pick one principle we have so far reviewed that is the most important one in your opinion.

How would you explain it to a student from Benito Martinez elementary?

Open Ended

In a very well explained short paragraph, select one principle we reviewed, and explain it in writing to a student from Benito Martinez elementary.