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To Form a More Perfect Union - Page 2

© Irene Taylor

Vocabulary

One of the hardest things about studying the Constitution, and some of our other famous documents, is the vocabulary. Written over 200 years ago, there are many terms which students will need to become familiar with in order to understand this document better. In the Preamble, the following words are likely to need some explanation: Union, justice, domestic, tranquility, common, defense, welfare, secure, blessings of liberty, posterity, ordain, establish. Once your students have an understanding of the meaning of these words, have them rewrite the Preamble in their own words.

Three Branches

One of the keys to the success of our system of government its three branches. Having learned from their years under England's rule, these Founders no longer wanted a government or a ruler that could be too strong. They created three branches of the government, the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Each of these branches checks on the other two to make sure that no one branch gets too powerful. This system of checks and balances is an integral part of our government.

Divide your class into three groups (six if your class is large). Have each group research one branch of the government. Then have each group present their findings on a poster. Be sure they include who the branch includes, what the role of the branch is, and how it is checked by the other branches. Display the three posters showing the checks and balances between each branch.

Compromising Positions

The willingness to compromise is another way that the Framers showed their greatness. A big problem for them was deciding how to structure the legislative, or lawmaking part of the government. Two plans were presented by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, the Virginia Plan, supported by larger states and the New Jersey Plan, supported by the smaller states. In the end, the delegates formed the two-house system we see today. In the Senate each state has two Senators - equal representation to make the smaller states happy. And in the House of Representatives, the number of representatives is based on the size of the state - to make the larger states happy. This plan, along with the creation of an executive branch, a judicial branch, and the system of checks and balances, was known as the Great Compromise.

Give your students a chance to explore this compromise and brush up on their persuasive writing skills at the same time. Have each student choose one plan to write about. Have them gather information and write a letter to those on the other side explaining why their plan is a better one. Letters may be read aloud once they are written.

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