Fourth Period: 10:15am to 10:43am
Fifth Period: 10:46am to 11:14am
Sixth Period: 11:17am to 11:45am
The Constitution Writing Project
Over the course of the unit on the Constitution, you will be writing your own constitution based on what you know about the US system of government and other systems around the world. Your constitution can be for an existing country, or for a fictional country and must include:
1) The Preamble • 5 points
The introduction to your constitution; this should state what you want your constitution to accomplish.
2) Article I • 10 points
The Legislature. You should explain how your legislature will function. Is it unicameral? Bicameral? How are representatives elected or chosen? How long are their terms in office? What powers does your legislature have?
3) Article II • 10 points
The Executive. You should explain how your executive will function. Is the executive a part of the legislature like in most parliamentary systems or is it an independent branch like in the United States? Why did you choose this system? How is your chief executive selected? Is the executive strong or are their powers ceremonial? Also, how will the bureaucracy function?
4) Article III • 10 points
The Judiciary. How much power will the judiciary have? Will the court system have broad powers of judicial review or will their mandate be more narrow? How will judges and justices be selected? How long will their terms in office be?
5) Article IV • 10 points
Miscellaneous. Will your nation be a unitary or federal state? Will you enshrine an official language into the constitution? Will your nation be officially neutral? Be creative!
6) Spelling and Grammar • 5 points
7) Bill of Rights • Extra Credit (up to 10 points)
Come up with ten rights that need to be enshrined into your nation's founding document. Each right is worth one point.
8) Creativity • Extra Credit (up to 10 additional points)
Print out your Constitution on an oversized sheet of paper, crumple it up, and design it however you see fit!
The Constitution Readings & Checkpoints
Over the course of the unit, we will be going through different sections of the textbook in class. Whenever we did a section of the readings, the questions will be due the same day and there will be a reading checkpoint made available the next day to start the class period (unless there were other instructions). The Google Forms online correspond to a specific topic/lesson in the textbook.
A Weak Confederation
When Americans declared their independence in 1776, they also assumed the right to govern themselves. The next year, the Continental Congress drew up plans for a national government. By that time, several states had already begun to create their own governments.