1.  Why is the Bill of Rights important? This Day in History: October 15, 1930- Duke Ellington records his first big hit, “Mood Indigo” October 15, 1965- In a demonstration staged by the student-run National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam, the first public burning of a draft card in the United States takes place. October 15, 1991- After a bitter confirmation hearing, the U.S. Senate votes 52 to 48 to confirm Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

2.  Declaration of Indpendence  Contradicts  African Americans  Supercedes  Bill of Rights  Preamble  Enumerated powers  Women  Implied Powers

3. The Six Basic Principles

4.  Written by James Madison  Took effect in 1789  “the supreme Law of the Land”  Living document

5.  Articles I, II, and III deal with the 3 branches of power.  Article IV deals with the relationship among the states with each other and the National Government.  Article V talks about amending the Constitution.  Article VI declares the Constitution is the supreme law.  Article VII states the requirements for ratification.

6.  Popular Sovereignty  Limited Government  Separation of Powers  Checks and Balances  Federalism  Republican form of Gov’t  Individual Rights (Bill of Rights)

7.  The people in America are sovereign, meaning they hold the power.  Government can govern only with the consent of the governed.  The citizens of America elect the officials and the officials make laws.

8.  The Government may only do things that people have given it the power to do, Constitutionalism  Rule of Law- The Government and its officers are always subject to-never above-the law

9.  Legislative is the lawmaking branch  Executive branch executes, enforces, and administers the law.  Judicial branch interprets and applies the laws of the U.S.

11.  Federalism is the division of power among a central government and several regional governments.  Born out of a weak Articles of Confederation.

12.  Enumerated powers are specifically given to Congress.  Reserved powers belong to the states. Not specifically stated. Given by the 10 th Amendment.  Concurrent powers are shared between the states and federal government.

13.  In each of your groups you will read through the Constitution and paraphrase/summarize each article and section of the Constitution. Explain the main point of each article and section.  Page 219-242 Constitution Assignment