1. Amending the Constitution of
The United States of America
Essential Questions:
How does the Constitution protect a citizen’s rights through due process?
Why do we have a process to make amendments?
How are amendments to the U.S. Constitution made?
What is a democracy?
How has the amendment process to the U.S. Constitution maintained a representative democracy?

2. Why Do I Need to Learn This Material???
SS5CG1: The student will explain how a citizen’s rights are protected under the U.S. Constitution.
Explain the responsibilities of a citizen
Explain the freedoms granted by the Bill of Rights
Explain the concept of due process of law
Describe how the Constitution protects a citizen’s rights by due process
SS5CG2: The student will explain the process by which amendments to the U.S. Constitution are made.
Explain the amendment process as outlined in the Constitution.

3. More Standards… Describe the purpose for the amendment process.
SS5GC3: The student will explain how the amendments to the U.S. Constitution have maintained a representative democracy

4. Discuss the main idea of the video with your neighbor.
Lesson 3- Let’s review rights and responsibilities and the Bill of Rights!
Discuss the main idea of the video with your neighbor.

5. Essential Questions: What is a democracy?
How does the Constitution protect a citizen’s rights through due process?
Why do we have a process to make amendments?
How are amendments to the U.S. Constitution made?
How has the amendment process to the U.S. Constitution maintained a representative democracy?

6. Note-taking Guide
Use your note-taking guide as we watch the PowerPoint, and fill in the information as you learn it.

7. Let’s Review: Becoming a Citizen
In the United States, citizens have a lot of freedoms, but they also have a responsibility to the country.
responsibility - a duty that people are expected to fulfill
Because citizens cannot expect their governments to do everything, they must do their part by becoming a volunteer.
volunteer – helping other people without being paid

8. Rights and Responsibilities of citizens of the United States
To vote
Join groups of your choice
Fair trial
Practice religion of choice
Not be discriminated
against in jobs
Get an education
Help in your community
To vote
Obey laws
Pay taxes
Serve on juries
Where do they overlap?
VOTE

9. Principles of Democracy
All nations have governments.
A government is a group of people who make and enforce the laws of a region or country.
The United States has a democratic government.
A democracy is a government in which the people decide (govern themselves) how the government should be run.
In the United States the majority decides who will win an election. Majority means more than half.
Watch “Democracy” on

10. United States Motto
“E pluribus unum” is one motto of the United States. This phrase means “out of many, one”.
This motto is a reminder that the original thirteen colonies formed one country. It can be found on our American coins.

12. The Rule of the Law
The Constitution is the plan for the United States government.
It promises to protect everyone equally.

13. Due Process of Law
A citizen’s life, liberty, or property cannot be taken away without a fair trial. All citizens must be treated equally under the law.
5th Amendment

14. Roles of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution As Related to the 5th Amendment
Special Note: Due Process, in the context of the United States, refers to how and why laws are enforced. It applies to all citizens and corporations.
Right to a fair and public trial conducted in a competent manner
Right to be present at the trail
Right to an impartial jury
Right to be heard in one’s own defense
Laws must be written so that reasonable person can understand what is criminal behavior
Taxes may only be taken by the government only for public purposes
Property may be taken by the government only for public purposes
Owners of taken property must be fairly compensated

15. Bill of Rights
Because some people believed that the Constitution gave the national government too much power, the Bill of Rights was written to protect people’s freedoms.

16. How the U.S. Constitution Can Be Amended
The Framers of the Constitution knew that over time, the document might need to be changed. But, they thought that it should not be changed too often. The process that they created for amending the Constitution makes it possible, but not easy to do. Why do you think they did this? Discuss.
Article V (or 5) of the Constitution creates the process for making amendments. The first step is to propose, or suggest, the amendment. Two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House of Representatives have to vote for the proposed amendment to put it into the ratification, or approval, process.
The proposal is then sent to the governors of every state. The state legislature then votes on ratification of the new amendment. As soon as the proposal has been ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 states total), it becomes an official amendment to the Constitution.

17. How Does a Proposed Bill Become a Law?
Watch How a Bill Becomes a Law on Watch “I’m Just a Bill” on

18. Discussion Let’s make a Flow Chart to help us remember the process.
Tell your neighbor how an amendment can become a law.
Let’s make a Flow Chart to help us remember the process.

19. Flow Chart: How a Proposed Congressional Bill Becomes an Amendment
1. The bill to amend the Constitution may originate in Congress.
2. The bill must first be approved by a 2/3 vote in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
3. Once approved by Congress, the proposed bill passes to the states. If approved by 3/4 of all state legislatures, it becomes a Constitutional amendment.
It must be noted that at no point does the President have a role in the formal amendment process (though he would be free to make his opinion known). He cannot veto an amendment proposal, nor a ratification. This is clear in Article 5 of the United States Constitution.

20. Amendment Process Summarized
Proposal Process
Congress may present a bill.
2/3 vote in the U.S. Senate and 2/3 vote in the House of Representatives have to approve it.
Then, Congress can send it to the states for approval.
Ratification Process
Three-quarters (3/4ths) of state legislatures must vote for it to pass.
Way to remember- quarters have the state names on them.
Why did they write it to be difficult to change? Discuss.
They thought that it should not be changed too often. The process that they created for amending the Constitution makes it possible, but not easy to do.

21. Partner Talk: Discuss with your neighbor what you learned today.
Let’s review the Constitution on
Can you answer the essential questions?
How does the Constitution protect a citizen’s rights through due process?
Why do we have a process to make amendments?
How are amendments to the U.S. Constitution made?
What is a democracy?
How has the amendment process to the U.S. Constitution maintained a representative democracy?
Partner Talk: Discuss with your neighbor what you learned today.