U.

S Constitution Project

Date Due:
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Objectives:

● To compare and contrast the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution.
● To demonstrate an understanding of the principles in the U.S. Constitution.
● To describe the framework, organization, and structure of the three branches of government at
the national level as outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
● To illustrate the powers of government officials as granted and limited by the U.S. Constitution.
● To illustrate an understanding of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Project Requirements:

This is an individual project; you are required to do this by yourself. The final product must be in book
form. The page by page requirements follow. All pages must be numbered. All words, charts, flow
charts, and graphic organizers must be your own.

Front Cover
● Illustrated
● Title
● Student Name on Cover
● Bound Together Neatly

Introduction
● Page One: Define and Illustrate the term “Constitution”. Also, identify at least 5 fun facts
about the Constitution. You fun facts cannot contain any numbers (i.e. years, people in attendance).
● Page Two: Using a double bubble thinking map (NOT A VENN DIAGRAM), compare and
contrast the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution. You must have a minimum of 3
similarities and 6 differences (three for each document).
● Page Three: Describe and illustrate the 6 purposes of government as outlined in the Preamble.
● Page Four: Briefly outline the purpose of each of the 7 Articles of the Constitution. You must
describe each purpose in your own words.

Article I
● Page 5: Create a two column chart outlining the structure of the House of Representatives and
Senate as outlined in Article 1, Sections 1-3 of the Constitution. Be sure to include the
following:
○ length of terms
○ constitutional eligibility requirements
○ how the number of representatives is determined for each state
○ who leads each body of Congress
○ impeachment powers for each house
○ at least one other interesting fact.
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● Page 6 (1/2): Article I, Section 2, Clause 3 mentions that “…actual Enumeration shall be…every
subsequent Term of ten years….” What is meant by this excerpt and how is it accomplished
today? Why is enumeration necessary? When will the next “enumeration” take place?
● Page 6 (1/2): Find and identify the sections and clauses that answer the following questions.
The questions must be answered in sentence format. Example: How often must Congress
meet? Answer: Congress must meet at least once every year. Location 4.2 (meaning
section 4, clause 2).
○ What makes up a quorum?
○ Who pays our Congressmen?
○ While Congress is in session, can a Congressional Representative be arrested for a
minor offense?
○ Where must revenue (tax) bills originate?
○ What are the rules concerning the expulsion of a Congressman from either house?
● Page 7: Create a simplified flow map that illustrates the process by which a bill becomes law
as outlined in Article I, Section 7. You must provide the name of a bill and its purpose (can be
made up by you). Refer to your bill’s name throughout the process. Be original. Also, pay
particular attention to the committee system and veto process.
● Page 8:
○ Describe and illustrate 8 of the enumerated congressional powers as listed in Article I,
Section 8.
○ Also, identify and describe the meaning of the “necessary and proper” clause.
○ By what other names is the “necessary and proper” clause known?
○ Where is the “necessary and proper” clause found?
● Page 9: Using Article 1, sections 9-10, describe powers denied to the Congress and States.

Article II

● Page 10: Describe the following as they are associated with the President of the United States
and identify the section and clause that outlines the pertinent information.
○ Length of the President’s and Vice President’s term.
○ How is the number of electors determined for each state?
○ The Constitutional requirements to become president.
○ When might the duties of the president “devolve” on the vice president?
○ How is the President’s pay determined?
● Page 11 (1/2): List, describe, and illustrate the five President’s powers as outlined in Article II,
Section 2.
● Page 11 (1/2): The president gives an annual “state of the union address.” Why and from
where does this requirement originate?

Article III

● Page 12: Summarize Article III.

○ Be sure to identify the only court created by the Constitution.
○ Who has the authority to create other courts as needed?
○ Also, describe and illustrate the types of cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the
federal courts.
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○ Last, what is the only crime defined in the Constitution? Define the crime.

Article IV

● Page 13 (1/2): Describe the meaning of the “Full Faith and Credit” clause. Give a specific
example in modern times as to how this clause applies.
● Page 13 (1/2): Answer the following questions and give the constitutional reference where the
answer may be found.
○ Can a new state be created within an existing state? If so, under what conditions?
○ Every state is guaranteed what form of government?
○ The United States promises to protect every state against what?
Article V

● Page 14:
○ Create a flow map that illustrates the amendment process.
○ Through research on your own, name and describe one Amendment in U.S. History that
only made it through the proposal requirement of the amendment process.

Article VI

● Page 15 (1/2): Summarize and illustrate Article VI. Pay particular attention to describing the
“Supremacy Clause.”

Article VII

● Page 15 (1/2): Summarize and illustrate Article VII.

Amendments

● Pages 16-24: Summarize and illustrate each amendment. Place 3 amendments on each
page.
● Page 25 (1/2): Answer the following questions and give the constitutional reference where
the answer may be found.
○ What is the establishment clause?
○ What is the free exercise clause?

Powers
● Page 25 (1/2): Create a Venn Diagram of the following powers:
○ Expressed
○ Concurrent
○ Reserved

● Be sure to define each type of power. Then list at least 4 examples of each type in your Venn
Diagram. You will have a total of 12 specific powers listed.
Principles

● Pages 26-27: Identify, define, and illustrate the five constitutional principles.
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Current Events

● Pages 28-30: Collect 3 articles from current news periodicals such as: Newsweek, Time, U.S.
News and World Reports, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, newspapers, or journals.
○ The articles must be less than 2 months old.
○ You will then need to relate the articles to various locations within the Constitution.
○ Affix each article to the page and highlight the Articles where it pertains to the portion of
the Constitution to which you are referring.
○ Identify the portion of the Constitution by Article, Section, and Clause which applies to the
page’s article.
○ Each news article must also be briefly summarized.
○ The sources of the article must also be clearly cited.

Works Cited Page: You must cite all of our sources in MLA format. Some useful websites for
instructions as to how to properly cite resources include: http://www/easybib.com/ and
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/.

Citing Images: For downloaded images, you must cite the website of the source. This needs be done
underneath each individual picture. For example:

https://twitter.com/hoggardsports
Turning in Your Project: Be sure to attach the rubric to your booklet.