Weekly Civics Lesson 2

Foundations of Democracy: The Constitution.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES.

1.  Identify the seven articles of the Constitution and their subjects

2.  Explain the purpose of the Preamble

3.  Describe the amendment process and its significance

Overview.

The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1788, is the supreme law of the land. It establishes the structure of government, grants it authority, and — crucially — limits what that authority can do. It remains the oldest written national constitution still in force.

 The Preamble.

The Preamble opens with "We the People" — signaling that government authority derives from citizens, not a monarch. It lists the Constitution's purposes:

•     Form a more perfect Union

•     Establish justice

•     Ensure domestic tranquility

•     Provide for the common defense

•     Promote the general welfare

•     Secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

 The Seven Articles.

•     Article I — The Legislative Branch (Congress)

•     Article II — The Executive Branch (President)

•     Article III — The Judicial Branch (Courts)

•     Article IV — Relations among states

•     Article V — The amendment process

•     Article VI — The Supremacy Clause — The Constitution is the supreme law

•     Article VII — Ratification procedure

 The Bill of Rights.

The first ten amendments, ratified in 1791, were added because many founders feared the original Constitution did not sufficiently protect individual liberties. They guarantee freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, the right to bear arms, protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, due process, and more.

 A Living Document.

The Constitution has been amended 27 times. The amendment process requires a supermajority — two-thirds approval in Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states — ensuring that any changes reflect a broad national consensus rather than a momentary political majority.

 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

1. Which article of the Constitution establishes the Legislative Branch?

A) Article I

B) Article II

C) Article III

D) Article IV

Answer: (A) Article I

Explanation: Article I establishes Congress — the Senate and House of Representatives — as the legislative branch of the federal government.

2. How many amendments does the Constitution currently have?

A) 10

B) 17

C) 27

D) 33

Answer: (C) 27

Explanation: The Constitution has 27 amendments. The first 10 (the Bill of Rights) were ratified in 1791. The most recent (27th) was ratified in 1992.

 How well did you do with the Questions this week?

Stay tuned for next week’s lesson: Foundations of Democracy: Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances.