1. CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT PARAGRAPH
District Required Assessment

2. WHAT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT?
A controversial issue is one in which…
an issue that challenges the Constitution
there are competing values and interests
people disagree strongly about statements, assertions (claims), or actions.
there is political sensitivity (governments tend to stay neutral about these issues)
emotions become strongly hightenend
protest is aroused

3. OVERVIEW
Amendments to the Constitution grant citizens rights that are supposed to be beneficial to the common good of society as well as to the individual.
Sometimes however, these rights are called into question and people can disagree on the interpretation of the amendments.

4. OVERVIEW CONTINUED
Remember, most of the amendments to the Constitution were written before the 1900’s.
Times have changed but the document has not!
This assessment will force you to ask yourself, ”is that Constitutional?” which is just what the Supreme Court Justices have to ask themselves every day!

5. Sample Issue

6. GUN CONTROL

7. SECOND AMENDMENT
“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”

8. AT ISSUE TODAY:
Was it the intention of the Framers to give ALL citizens the right to own ANY weapon?
Should we have stricter gun control laws?
Do gun control laws prevent crime?
Why does the United States have so many more deaths by gun shot than any other industrialized nation?

9. TWO SIDES TO EVERY ISSUE
Pro Gun Control = Some government restrictions on access to guns
Major organization in support:
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Brady Bill
Anti Gun Control = No government involvement in individual ownership of guns
Major Organization in support:
National Rifle Association (NRA)

10. TAKE A STAND – CHOOSE A SIDE
YOUR ISSUE

11. YOUR PROMPT: DEATH PENALTY
Under the present US Constitution, should certain criminal offenders be sentences to death?
Think about:
Is the death penalty cruel and unusual punishment?
Should the death penalty be legal in the US?