U.S. Constitution Activity

Directions: Where links are provided, use them find the answers to the questions. Use your online skills to find the information needed to answer the other questions.

1. Why has September 17th been declared Constitution Day? Use your online searching skills to find the answer.

2. How many Amendments are there to the U.S. Constitution?

Why was it necessary to amend it?

How many proposed amendments have failed to be accepted by the States?

Which failed amendment do you support? Why?

3. Name the people that the U.S. Constitution applies to today.

Have people always been treated equally under the U.S. Constitution? Explain.

4. Read about the French Fry case. Which amendment(s) do you think apply to this case?

What do you advise the girl to do?

5. Use the information at the National Archives to answer these questions:

a. How many delegates attended the Constitutional Convention?

b. What percentage of the delegates attending the Constitutional Convention, signed the Constitution?

c. Select a delegate who did not sign. Why did he not sign it?

6. How many months did it take for the states to ratify the Constitution of 1787, after it was signed by the delegates?

Describe how supporters advocated for the adoption of the new constitution.

Evaluate: Would these methods or techniques of advocacy be effective today?
Why or why not?

7. Do you agree with how the Constitution is applied to the rights of students?
Explain why you agree or disagree.

8. Use the Constitution web site to answer these questions.

a. If you are to appear in court for a crime, which amendment(s) are especially important to you?

b. You decided to run for election to the House of Representatives. What are the qualifications? Assuming you are elected, when will you have to run for reelection?

c. Article IV, Section 1 says "Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof." What does this mean to a person who moves from Fairbanks, Alaska to Providence, Rhode Island?

d. What are the qualifications of the President?

e. Which elected official(s) can declare war?

f. You write an article about how the school lunches are high in calories and fats. The teacher, who is in charge of the school newspaper, will not print the article in the paper. Which amendment applies to this issue? Explain.

Extra:

Complete this essay - The people made the Constitution

The Story of the Bill of Rights Videos

Freedom In America: Some Assembly Required - electronic field trip

Explore: Civics & Constitution Projects, Essays, Elections & Voting, Quotes, Resources | Mrs. O'Hora's Pennsylvania Projects

Posted 9/2005 by Cynthia J. O'Hora, Released to public domain for not for profit use. Updated 8/2023

Save a tree - use a Digital Answer Format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid , or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. Be sure to enter your name & the date at the top of the document. Submit via email attachment or class dropbox. Bad things happen: Save a copy of the response document for your records.

Proof read your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. How to: Make your own printer ready paper answer sheet with lines.