Project Assignment: Seven Articles AND major principles of the United States

Constitution
Audience: teacher and colleagues
Style: visual metaphor
Due:
Points: 30
Background
Constitutionalism holds that there are limits on the rightful power of government over
its citizens. In a constitutional system, officials govern according to law, and citizens
have basic rights that government cannot deny or abridge. A constitution is the
fundamental law that defines how a government will legitimately operatethe method
for choosing its leaders, the institutions through which these leaders will work, the
procedures they must follow in making policy, and the powers they can lawfully exercise.
Task: Students will work in groups of four (4) to create a visual metaphor that identifies,
describes and connects the seven articles and six major principles of the United States
Constitution.
Vocabulary: Use some of the following terms correctly to highlight the relationship
between your visual metaphor, the United States Constitution, and the major principles of
government:
Marbury v. Madison
federalism
bicameral
judicial branch
separation of powers
judicial review
majoritarianism
delegated powers
executive agreement
necessary and proper clause
living document

Gibbons v. Ogden
democracy
legislative branch
interstate commerce
checks and balances
ratification (ratify)
states rights
concurrent powers
expressed powers
popular sovereignty
stakeholders

McCulloch v. Maryland
economics
executive branch
supremacy clause
limited government
republicanism
reserved powers
revenue
enumerated powers
amending
era

History-Social Science Content Standard 12.1 Explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as
expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American Democracy. RCCR8 Delineate and evaluate the argument
and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. RH 11 12.1 Read closely to
determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support
conclusions drawn from the text. WHST 11 12.1 Write arguments to support claim in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Assessment Scorecard

ACCURACY

BRIDGE

STRUCTURE

Correct (90%)
application of
concepts and
terms

Correct (85%)
application of
concepts and
terms

Correct (70%)
application of
concepts and
terms

Above AND
each part of the
metaphor links
to the articles
and principles in
function

Above AND
most parts of the
metaphor link
to the articles
and principles in
function

Above AND few

parts of the
metaphor link to
the articles and
principles in
function

Substantive
supporting
details
Analysis

Few supporting
details
Analysis

Few supporting
details
Analysis

History-Social Science Content Standard 12.1 Explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as
expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American Democracy. RCCR8 Delineate and evaluate the argument
and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence. RH 11 12.1 Read closely to
determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support
conclusions drawn from the text. WHST 11 12.1 Write arguments to support claim in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.