The First Amendment

Freedom: Speech; Press; Religion; Petition; and Assembly

James Madison, the author of the Bill of Rights, believed that a guarantee of these five freedoms was the cornerstone of a democratic society. Because of their importance, he placed them first among the ten amendments that make up the Bill of Rights.

We will continue a discussion of their importance today, and watch a filmed dramatization of these rights in action from the Discovery Education Channel. The title of the film is "On Common Ground: Collision Course".

This video confronts First Amendment rights and contemporary debates on immigration, labor, and the working class. Just click on the box below to watch.

The Bill of Rights Continued

Today we will look at some Supreme Court cases dealing with first amendment rights.

Case 1: Texas vs Johnson (1989)
Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag outside of the convention center where the 1984 Republican National Convention was being held in Dallas, Texas. Johnson burned the flag to protest the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was arrested and charged with violating a Texas statute that prevented the desecration of a venerated object, including the American flag, if such action were likely to incite anger in others. A Texas court tried and convicted Johnson. He appealed, arguing that his actions were "symbolic speech" protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court agreed to hear his case. What do you think the Court decided? Before you make a decision, look at this similar case:
http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/topics/firstamendment/speech/backgroundTX.html

Now discuss the case with your group, come to a decision for or against Johnson. Explain your answer on a word document. If there is a dissenting opinion, include it as well. Click on the link below to read the decision made by the Supreme Court:
http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/topics/firstamendment/speech/texasfacts.html
on the word document, include the decision made by the Supreme Court.

Case 2: Engle vs. Vitale (1962)
A New York State Law required public schools to open each day with the pledge of allegiance and a non-denominational prayer in which the students recognized their dependence upon God. The law allowed students to absent themselves from this activity if they found it objectionable. A parent sued on behalf of his child, arguing that the law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, as made applicable to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. What do you think the Court decided? Before you decide, look at these similar cases:
http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/topics/firstamendment/engel/cases.html

Now discuss in your group and make a decision for or against Engle. Explain your decision on a word document. If there is a dissenting opinion, include that as well.
Explain your answer. Click on the link below to read the decision made by the Supreme Court:
http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/topics/firstamendment/engel/facts.html
On your word document include the decision made by the Supreme Court


Case 3: Morse vs Frederick (2005):
Joseph Frederick, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School, unfurled a banner saying "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" during the Olympic Torch Relay through Juneau, Alaska on January 24, 2002. Frederick's attendance at the event was part of a school-supervised activity. The school's principal, Deborah Morse, told Frederick to put away the banner, as she was concerned it could be interpreted as advocating illegal drug activity. After Frederick refused to comply, she took the banner from him. Frederick originally was suspended from school for 10 days for violating school policy, which forbids advocating the use of illegal drugs.
What do you think the Court decided? Check out the arguments for both sides by clicking on this link: http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/topics/firstamendment/speech/talkingpointsMvF.html
Discuss with your group, and come to a decision for or against Frederick, explain your answer on a word document. If there are dissenting votes, include in the document.

To find out the decision of the Supreme Court, click the following link:
http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/topics/firstamendment/speech/morsefacts.html
On your word document include the decision made by the Supreme Court.
print off the document and hand in.

The Bill of Rights

Now that we have studied the Constitution, we will take a look at the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is made up of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution itself does not guarantee any basic individual rights, which as you can imagine, was troublesome for a nation of people that had just fought a rebellion over basic individual rights. In order to get the needed 9 or 13 states to ratify the Constitution, James Madison, and others, promised a Bill of Rights that would protect individual freedoms. Later, after the Constitution was ratified into law, the Bill of Rights was added in its present form today.

Today's lesson will focus on 1st Amendment rights: freedom of speech; press; religion; assembly; and petition.

Try playing some matching games to see what you know about the Bill of Rights!
http://www.quia.com/jg/1845606.html

Constitution Test: Click here

Today we will take a test over the U.S. Constitution. Click on the title of this blog, enter username and password. The secret word is patriot. If you wish to have the test read to you, use the headphones and simply click on "audio" for each of the questions. Remember, once you start the test, you may not leave the site until finished. When finished, return your computer, and work on something from another class, or read a book.
Good Luck!!

Prepare for test on Tuesday

Write down the words and terms on the board today. Everything on the board will appear on the test. The test will be multiple choice, plus you will need to write the Preamble to the Constitution, or at least be able to list the 6 principles of government found in the Preamble. Your time in class, today, should be spent on the formative assessments.

Read the following link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/23/greene.haiti.american.aid/index.html

Federalism:Click here for notes

Today we are studying federalism. Federalism is the sharing of power between the National Government and the state governments. To see notes on federalism click on the blog title!

Because we missed school on Wednesday, and today is a short class due to delay, the test will now be on Monday. To prepare, you should go over notes from class, complete the formative assessment activities, and memorize the Preamble to the Constitution- or at least the 6 principles of government found in the Preamble.

The Electoral College

Today we will take a look at the Electoral College, and spend some time reviewing for the test. Use the formative assessments to prepare. Remember, you must enter your username and password to get credit for the activities. For those of you who do not yet know the Preamble to the Constitution, listening to the school house rock Preamble video would be time well spent. Also, keep in mind, if you cannot remember the preamble, you need to at least be able to list the six principles of the Constitution found in the Preamble:
1) We the people
2) Establish justice
3) Ensure domestic tranquility
4) Provide for the common defence
5) Promote the general welfare
6) Secure the blessings of liberty, to ourselves and our posterity (future generations)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Enjoy your day off. Thursday, we will have a test over the United States Constitution. Tuesday and Wednesday we will go over vocabulary, compromises, important people, etc. The most valuable thing you can do to prepare for the test is to use the formative assessments I have provided for you. Find an activity under the title formative assessments in the green box, then enter your username and password before playing.

Finish weekly assignments!

As the week draws to a close, you will have time in class to work on three assignments:

1) Define and Identify words from textbook pages 241 and 247.
2) Finish Census Bureau questions using the wall maps.
3) Using the Constitution, on page 265, complete the Constitutional Problems sheet.

#1 and #2 are due today
#3 is due when you return to school, Tuesday, January 19th

If you are at home today, make sure you are learning the Preamble to the Constitution! It can be found on page 264 of your textbook. For a fun way to learn the words, watch the school house video "The Preamble". Find the video in the green box, under School House Rock.

Checks and Balances

In 1787, the Founding Fathers attempted to create a new government, in which no one person, or group, would ever become so powerful that they could abuse the rights of the people. The true power of government lies in its ability to make laws, enforce laws, and settle disputes about the laws. The creators of the Constitution knew that if one person or group could do two or more of these tasks, the possibility of the abuse of power was enormous. As a result, the system we have today is made up of three branches: The Legislative Branch makes laws; the Executive Branch enforces the laws; and the judicial branch settles disputes.

Yesterday, we studied this separation of powers. Today, we will learn how a system of checks and balances was created to keep any one branch from being more important than another.


If you are at home today, your job is to play the Constitution Power Grab Game. Go to http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/power_grab_game/ (or just click on the title of this blog to take you there!)
and take a look at each of the situations. You should find the Constitutional "check" for each situation, then write it on a clean sheet of paper, or a word document. It should be turned in when you return to school.

Class Notes on Checks and Balances:
http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Republic/Checks_Balances.ppt

The House of Representatives and the Census Bureau

Yesterday we discussed the Great Compromise, and how states would be represented equally in the Senate, but a system of proportional representation would be used in the House of Representatives. Today we will look at how the Census Bureau counts the population to ensure we have the right number of representatives from each state. Take a look at this Discovery Education video on the Census Bureau.

After watching the 4 minute film, students will receive a Census Bureau question sheet in class. To answer the questions, students will use population and demographics maps provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Class Notes: http://www.mrberlin.com/7th/Republic/Sep_of_Powers.ppt

Constitutional Vocabulary

Using textbooks, students will define words and terms having to do with the Constitution. Words and terms can be found on pages 241 and 247. They should be turned in by Friday of this week.

Monday: The Constitutional Convention

Today, we will begin our unit on the Constitutional Convention. To begin, you should watch the video below. Use headphones to listen. When you have finished the video, go to formative assessments and find the Constitutional Scavenger Hunt. Make sure you log in with your username and password before you begin the activity.

Articles of Confederation Test: Click here

It is test day! You may spend up to 15 minutes of class time running through the activities and formative assessment to prepare for the test. When you are ready, click on the title of this blog entry.

The Articles of Confederation continued...

Today we will continue studying the Articles of Confederation. We will again look at its weaknesses compared to our current Constitution, but we will also learn how, in some ways, the Congress was successful under the Articles of Confederation. Topics today will include: The Northwest Territory; The Land Ordinance of 1785; and the Northwest Ordinance.

Pre-Test: Click Here

Welcome back! I hope you've had a good rest, and are ready to get to work. The quarter will end January 17, so we have almost 2 weeks to finish up the semester.
For the rest of the semester we will be studying the "New Republic".
Today, you take a pre-test to see what you know about the Articles of Confederation.
To take the pre-test click on the title of today's blog. Your score will determine how much you need to learn about our first constitution.