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Course: Constitution 101 > Unit 1
Lesson 5: Methods of Constitutional Interpretation- Methodologies | Constitution 101
- Background: Constitutional Methods
- Background: Constitutional Methods—Examples
- Activity: How Do We Interpret the Constitution?
- Understand: Methods of Constitutional Interpretation
- Apply: Methods of Constitutional Interpretation
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Activity: How Do We Interpret the Constitution?
Google ClassroomMake the Constitution come alive in your classroom with this free hands-on investigative activity about the United States Constitution.
Activity: How Do We Interpret the Constitution?
The Founding generation ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1787, over two hundred years ago! One of the longest-lasting Constitutions in the world, constitutional scholars, politicians, and judges work every day to interpret the Framers' words and apply it to modern times. The Constitution isn’t a particularly long document, and the Founding generation wrote it so that everyone—lawyer and non-lawyer alike—could read it, understand it, and lay claim to it as their own.
In this hands-on activity, students learn the skills necessary to engage in constitutional conversations. That means:
- building a historical foundation through storytelling
- learning how to interpret the Constitution like a constitutional lawyer
- developing the skills of civil dialogue and reflection.
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Overview
This activity is designed to be completed in two 45-minute class periods. The activity consists of the following parts:
- Setting the stage—Students re-watch the videos on the Walkthrough of the Original Constitution and the Walkthrough of the 27 Amendments to remind themselves of the various parts of the Constitution (30 minutes).
- Background—Review the traditional methods for interpreting the Constitution in this worksheet (15 minutes).
- Apply—Review the list of quotes from Supreme Court cases in Activity Guide: Constitutional Interpretation Method Identification. Identify the constitutional methodology that connects to each quote (20 minutes).
- Build norms for civil dialogue—With the rest of your class build a list of norms for your classroom to ensure civil dialogue as you dive deep into interpreting the Constitution (25 minutes).
Related National Constitution Center Content
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In what views do people have about the constituition?(2 votes)- I'm not seeing the fact that all judges are strictly prohibited from going against their oath of office, The Constitution, and Our Bill of Rights in issuing orders/decisions from the bench. Legislating from the bench is absolutely prohibited by Constitutional standards. Judges are mandated by "The Law of the Land," i.e., The Constitution, and their oath of office, to strictly adhere to and interpret the Original Intent of our Framers, The Constitution, and Our Bill of Rights (a non-negotiable pact with all American citizens) and with the utmost respect for all three. Judges (and all public officials and gov't. employees) are required to avoid acting with disdain for these critical documents and foundational principles throughout the performance of their duties. Please, for accuracy and posterity, ensure that is clear in this educational course. For, when these officials venture away from their oath of office, Our Bill of Rights, and Our Constitution to "legislate from the bench" and to wreak havoc on our US Judicial System, eroding trust in our government at so many turns, every American loses and our freedom is undermined. If we are to ensure that our Constitutional Republic remains intact, we must properly educate our students for future prosperity. Thank you for your time and consideration and for adding this vital information to your "new course".(1 vote)