Amending the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia
This graphic organizer shows that the Constitution of the United States can be amended and the process on how the Constitution can be amended.
This lesson, and the graphic organizer that goes with it, explains to the student that the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia can be amended and the process on how they both can be amended. The student will also learn that the amendment process is complex and that both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia has been amended many times.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- understand the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia can be amended through a process involving a proposal and ratification.
- describe the procedures for amending the Constitution of the United States and why the process is complex.
- explain that the Constitution of the United States has been amended many times and be able to give reasons why some of the amendments were made.
- compare and contrast the amendment process of the Constitution of the United States with the Constitution of Virginia.
Essential Question
How does the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia adapt to the changing needs of the government?
Procedure:
1. Introduction
This lesson describes the process on how to amend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia. The students will study the graphic organizer and the attached brief description about the amendment process and be able to explain what the process is and in their own words why it is so complex. Students will also understand why the first 10 amendments were made (The Bill of Rights) and why other amendments were based on the background of major events in the United States history.
2. Explore
Students should use their device to research how to amend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia. Students should also research specific amendments and why they were made. Another resource for students to use is the short video on the Amending the Constitution.
3. Explain
Tell the students they will be able to understand and describe the process for the amendment of the Constitution of United States and the Constitution of Virginia. They will also be able to compare and contrast the 2 processes. Finally, they will understand the reason for amending the Constitution of the United States with the first 10 amendments (The Bill of Rights) and get a deeper reason for specific subsequent amendments made to the Constitution of the United States (i.e. the 13th amendment). They will demonstrate this by doing the following:
- Research the process for amending the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia and explain why they were made to be so complex.
- Research why the first 10 amendments (The Bill of Rights) were made.
- Research a specific amendment of their own choosing and give the historical background to it to explain why it was made.
- Using the Graphic Organizer as a backdrop, the students will create a presentation of the amendment process to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia and give reasons why it is so complex. The presentation should also compare and contrast the amendment processes of the 2 constitutions. Finally, the presentation should also include the reasons for the 27 amendments that were made to the Constitution of the United States.
Directions: Tell the students that based on their research, they are to create a way to present to their class the amendment processes of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia, why they are so complex and to compare and contrast the two. They should also explain why it was necessary to make the first 10 amendments (The Bill of Rights) right away. Finally they should choose an amendment (other than the first 10) and go into detail why it was made and the historical backdrop to the amendment. Examples of how the student can make a presentation can be a poster, slide presentation (i.e. PowerPoint), flip chart, or video.
4. Assess
Driving Questions:
How can the Constitution of the United States be amended?
How can the Constitution of Virginia be amended?
Writing assignment: Have students use their device to create an essay as to why the writers of the Constitution of the United States made it very complex to make an amendment to the Constitution. In the essay they are to describe in their own words the procedures for making an amendment.
Extending the lesson: Have the students propose an amendment they would like to see in the Constitution of the United States and give a reason why.
Brief description of the amendment process of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia.
