1. The US Constitution: Part 2
The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution. Mind Map (20 mins)
The Bill of Rights and Amendments: Poster Activity (30 mins)
The Constitution: Are the effective checks and balances? How does it protect peoples freedoms? –Worksheet (30 mins)
Summary: Interpretations of the Constitution and Criticisms (mindmap) (10 mins)
Essay Writing and Planning (25 mins)
Homework

2. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution –Mind Map
What is the Declaration of Independence?
What is the US Constitution?

3. The US Bill of Rights: Poster Activity
Add on and illustrate, label the poster
Use: The US Constitution
What is the Bill of Rights?
What amendments have been made to the Bill of Rights?

4. The US Constitution Worksheet
Why have so few amendments been passed on the US Constitution? (list 4 reasons)
What rights does the constitution guarantee? (1st amendment, second amendment) See box 1.5

5. What is meant by the separation of powers?
Checks and Balances:
Copy the chart of key checks and balances in the US system.
What checks does the executive have over the judiciary? (2)
What checks does the legislature have on the executive? (8)

6. What checks does the legislature have on the judiciary? (2)
What checks does the judiciary have on the legislature? (1)
What checks does the judiciary have on the executive? (1)
What is meant by Bipartisanship?

7. What is the key problem with this system of checks and balances?
What problems can occur with ‘divided governments’?

8. Changes in Interpretation of the Constitution?
David Mckay (1993) Argues that constitutional changes are less important than their interpretation .
He identifies four such stages:
1) The assertion of federal power over state power
2) The assertion of executive power over legislative power
3) The emergence of the US supreme court as the final arbiter of the constitution
4) The growing protection of individual rights under the federal government
First two were not envisaged by founding fathers, but the third probably was.
The fourth has developed in a way that could never of been predicted in 1787

9. Assessing the Constitution
How important is it?
David Mckay and Martin Hague argue that most political developments and changes have involved institutions and processes, not even referred to in the constitution*
Interest Groups
Mass Media
Globalisation
Party Politics

10. Summary/ Criticisms of the Constitution
Continuing political battles between executive and legislature
Progressive weakening of states in relation to federal government
Presidents contained by negative power of congress (Mckay)
States loss of power is more to do with inefficiency and inefefctive govt, than it is the constitution’ (Mckay, 93)

11. Plan your essay for 5 mins
Timed Essay:
The Constitution is an effective system of checks and balance. Discuss (25 mins)
Plan your essay for 5 mins
Remember the rules:
Opposing arguments
Evidence for each argument
Use key Names and theories

12. Constitution / Homework
Create flash cards or a mind map on the changing federal –state relationship /consequences of Federalism
Complete the essay:
How and why is federalism enshrined in the Constitution? (15 mins, 15 marks)
Complete the exam paper to time
Look at the exam papers attached and list down briefly what you think each question is asking you to cover.