1. Russia
Cuba
Iraq
United Kingdom
India
North Korea
Thailand
USA
France
Australia
China
United Kingdom
USA
Australia
India
France
North Korea
Cuba
China
Russia
Iraq
Thailand
YOUR TASK:
All of these countries have a written constitution, or written element of their constitution.
Place them in order from the earliest date in which the constitution was enacted.
In other words, list them in order of the age of their constitution.

2. Enquiry Question: How much impact does the constitution have on contemporary US government?

3. Learning Outcomes
To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
To debate the extent to which the constitution still influences contemporary government
To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of reform

4. 'Gridlock is an inevitable consequence of the US system of government
'Gridlock is an inevitable consequence of the US system of government.’ How far do you agree?
Gridlock can be defined as the situation that arises when legislation faces difficulties in being passed due to different party control in the legislature or executive.

5. To apply the concept of gridlock to the United States, it can occur in two places. Firstly if the House of Representatives and Senate are controlled by different parties, then the passage of legislation will be difficult.

6. The second instance is when Congress happens to be united under one party, yet the Presidency is controlled by the opposing party. This second instance happens far more than the first, but both instances can cause the passage of legislation to be slow.

7. If parties are polarized then the ideological gap between will be wide and therefore far less legislation will get passed. However, if the ideologies of the parties are closer, or both 'moderate' congressmen, then far more legislation will get passed.

8. Gridlock and the Constitution
YOUR TASK: Complete the sentences below;
The constitution allows gridlock to happen by…
The constitution makes gridlock more likely because…
Gridlock benefits the people because…

9. Learning Outcomes
To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
To debate the extent to which the constitution still influences contemporary government
To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of reform

10. Considering Constitutional Questions
YOUR TASK:
Using the article “Reappraisal of the US Constitution” and other resources available to you, answer the following questions.
What is meant by 'the Constitution is a living, growing document'?
Explain the part played by judicial review in changing the US constitution.
What is 'divided government' and how might it be prevented?
How fair is the criticism that the US Constitution is 'too adaptive'?
To what extent do you agree that 'the three branches of government are out of synch'?
What areas of the US Constitution are in need of reform?
Explain why reform is unlikely to happen.

11. Analysing Constitutional Documents
YOUR TASK:
Read the constitution.
Highlight any aspects of the constitution which are not still applicable to contemporary government and politics in the USA.
Annotate these aspects of the constitution to explain how and why they have changed.

12. ‘Transformed beyond recognition from the vision of the Founding Fathers.’ Discuss this view of the modern US constitution.
YOUR TASK: For each of the arguments find TWO examples or pieces of evidence which support this argument to complete your worksheet, then evaluate each argument.
What makes this a strong argument?
What makes this argument unconvincing?

13. Learning Outcomes
To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
To debate the extent to which the constitution still influences contemporary government
To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of reform

14. Breaking News: Constitution is “EVIL”!
Many Americans were shocked to learn about Georgetown University Professor Louis Michael Seidman's advocation for the U.S. to abandon the Constitution — the central document that has helped spawn America's growth and progression for hundreds of years.
The constitutional expert recently noted his belief (via an op-ed) that a blind allegiance to the outdated document is perilous.
Here, he defended his controversial views about some purportedly "evil" provisions in the Constitution in an interview
Watch the video clip!

15. The Constitution needs to be reformed because…
The Constitution does not need to be reformed because…
there are too many checks and balances, with the consequence that the system can become gridlocked
the difficulty of amending it and the survival of (arguably) archaic elements such as the second amendment
the power of judicial review has created an ‘imperial judiciary’
the unrepresentative nature of the Senate
the archaic mechanism of the Electoral College can mean that winner of the popular vote is denied the presidency
House elections are too frequent, meaning that representatives are constantly campaigning
lack of term limits in Congress creates an unrepresentative elite
a degree of ‘gridlock’ ensures that ill-thought out policy cannot be rushed through
the constitution is sufficiently vague to allow necessary changes to occur, e.g. power has moved from Congress to the executive and the states to the federal government to meet societal needs
the constitution has been amended to reflect changes in values, e.g the Senate is now elected by popular vote
both the Senate and the Electoral College are an important element of the federal identity of the constitution
it has survived for 200+ years

16. Learning Outcomes
To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
To debate the extent to which the constitution still influences contemporary government
To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of reform

17. Slavery and the US Constitution
One of the biggest criticisms of the constitution is the references the document makes to slavery.
These have not been removed from the constitution, but have been changed through the 13th amendment.
What does the 13th amendment protect?
Watch the video clip!
U.S. Constitution Day is on September 17th.
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3: the Three-Fifths Compromise
Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1: Slave Importation
Article IV, Section 2, Clause 3: Fugitive Slave Clause
Watch the video clip!

18. Homework
Application Task: To what extent is the constitutional system of checks and balances an obstacle to effective government? Flipped Learning Preparation Task: Strengths and weaknesses of the constitution (Pearson p ) Stretch & Challenge Task Article: America’s Fragile Constitution