We the People Level 1

Unit 1—What basic ideas about government did the Founders have?

Question:

  • According to the Founders, what are the basic purposes of government?
  • Why did the Framers think a constitution was necessary to achieve these purposes?
  • Which did the Founders think was more important, the common good or individual rights?
  • Does our government still serve the purposes that the Framers intended?

Possible follow ups:

  1. How do you think government is different today than it was in 1770?
  1. Why did so many Europeans want to come to the colonies?
  1. You used the terms Founders and Framers? Who are they?
  1. What are some of our individual rights?
  1. What do we mean by common good?
  1. How can each of us serve the common good?
  1. What is the purpose of government?
  1. Your school is in many ways a governmental body. How are your school rules related to the purpose of government?
  1. Which do you think is more important—individual rights or the common good? Explain your answer.
  1. What is civic virtue? Give examples of people who practice civic virtue in your school and community.
  1. What is the most important thing you have learned studying We the People?

Unit 2—How did the Framers write our Constitution?

Question:

  • What major conflicts required the Framers at the Philadelphia Convention to make a compromise?
  • Why was it so difficult for the Framers to reach agreement about how to resolve their conflicts?
  • How did the compromise of later adding a Bill of Rights affect our Constitution?
  • Do agree with the Framers decision to keep the proceedings of the Philadelphia Convention secret? Why or why not?
  • Was the group assembled at the Philadelphia Convention a fair representation of the people? Why or why not?

Possible follow ups:

  1. Why did the Framers not make slavery illegal at the time that they wrote the Constitution?
  1. What were the problems that were between the larger and the smaller states and how did they solve them? Do you think this was a good solution?
  1. What is the 3/5 clause? Why do you think the delegates who were against slavery voted for this clause? How would you have voted?
  1. Do you think it would be possible to keep a Constitutional Convention secret in 2010? Explain your answer.
  1. How do you think today’s delegates to a Constitutional Convention would be different than they were in 1787? Explain your answer.
  1. How did the Framers set an example for how government should work in the way they solved their disagreements?
  1. In your own words, what is the “common good”? Give some examples.
  1. People sometimes disagree about what is best for their communities. Describe a situation where this might happen. How should such disagreements be settled?
  1. What is “domestic tranquility”? Do you think we have that in the United States? Why or why not?
  1. What is the most important thing you have learned studying We the People?

Unit 3—How does the Constitution organize our government?

Question:

  • How did the Framers use separation of powers and checks and balances to limit the powers of government?
  • Give examples of checks and balances at work today.
  • Give examples of the use of federalism to limit power.
  • Do you think the Congress should have the power to pass a bill over the president’s veto? Why or why not?
  • Do you think the Supreme Court should have the power to declare a law passed by Congress unconstitutional? Why or why not?

Possible follow ups:

  1. Give an example of checks and balances and explain how the system works.
  1. What are some of the powers of the president? Which do you think is the most important? Why?
  1. What keeps the president from becoming too powerful?
  1. Should the president be allowed to serve more than two terms? Why or why not?
  1. Which laws do you think most directly affect you—those made by the national government in Washington, D.C. or those made by the state government in Jefferson City? Explain your answer.
  1. What is judicial review? Do you think it is important for the Supreme Court to have this power? Why?
  1. Name an important Supreme Court case and state why you think it is important.
  1. Do you think Supreme Court justices should be appointed for life? Why or why not?
  1. Do you think Supreme Court justices should be elected instead of appointed by the President? Why or why not?
  1. Since the president can only serve two terms, should the same restrictions be placed on senators and representatives?
  2. Some people have said that the Electoral College is outdated. Do you believe that our constitution should be amended to allow our president to be elected by popular vote?
  1. What is the most important thing you have learned studying We the People?

Unit Four— How does the Constitution protect our basic rights?

Question:

  • What is freedom of expression, and why is it important to our democracy?
  • How does the Constitution protect freedom of expression?
  • Are there times when freedom of expression should be limited? Why or why not? Give examples.
  • How is freedom of religion protected in the Constitution?
  • When is it acceptable for government to limit the practice of people’s religious beliefs?
  • How has the idea of “equal protection of the laws” been used to protect people’s rights? Give examples?

Possible follow ups:

  1. Why is it important for newspapers and television newscasts to be able to report the news without fear of being punished by the government?
  1. Why is it okay for you to have prayer here at your school and the students at Francis Howell cannot?
  1. Public schools may not start their days with prayer yet the Missouri General Assembly in Jefferson City begins everyday with a prayer. How would you explain why one is okay and the other is not?
  1. If the parents’ religious beliefs were that a newborn child should drink only water and that was the only nourishment they were giving their baby, do you think the government should allow it because the parents have freedom of religion?
  1. The Bill of Rights did not guarantee rights for all people, for example women and African-Americans. How was this corrected?
  1. Suppose some people in audience get angry with a speaker and try to stop him from speaking. Whose rights should the police protect—the speaker or the audience? Why?
  1. Is it constitutional for a group of people to have a protest demonstration on your lawn? Why or why not?
  1. Do you think the government should have rules about how the Internet is used? Why or why not?
  1. What is the most important thing you have learned studying We the People?
  2. Do you think there are times when your school principal can limit your freedom of expression? Explain.
  3. Here at St. Joseph, you are required to wear a uniform to school. Is requiring students to wear a uniform a violation of their freedom of expression?

Unit Five— What are the responsibilities of citizens?

Question:

  • What responsibilities go along with the rights of citizens?
  • Do you think every citizen should be required to participate in his/her government? How?
  • How does a responsible citizen promote the common good?
  • Why do so many young people not fulfill their responsibility to vote?
  • As citizens of a democracy, do we have responsibilities to other nations of the world?

Possible follow ups:

  1. People who come to this country have to take a citizenship test to become a citizen. If we had to take citizenship tests, what kinds of things would you put on the test? Explain your answer.
  1. Being a good Catholic also involves being a good citizen. How would you explain this to someone?
  1. If your school gave a good citizenship award, what kinds of things would you be looking for in a person who might win this award? Why?
  1. We will have an election in November. Do you think the way that the candidates might campaign willencourage people to vote or discourage them? Why do you feel this way?
  1. What are the most important responsibilities of citizens in our country?
  1. Should we require people to vote? Why or why not?
  1. Do you think the current voting age is appropriate? Should the age be raised or lowered? Why?
  2. Should citizens be allowed to vote if they have served time in prison for a serious crime? Explain
  1. Can you give some examples of some people who you think are good citizens and tell us why you think this?
  1. In the future, people may be able to vote from home on their computers or mobile phones? Do you think this is a good idea? Why or why not?
  1. What is the most important thing you have learned studying We the People?