Six Big Ideas in the Constitution

& & & &

& & & & &

$ $ $ $ $ $

$ $ $$

& & & & & & & & & & & & & &

& & & & & & & & & & & &

$ $ $ $ $

$ $ $ $

& & & & & &

$ $

& & &

$ $

& & &

$ $

& & &

$ $

& &

$ $

& & &

$ $

& & & & & &

$ $

$ $ $

& & & & & & & & & & & &

& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &

& & & & & & & & & & &

& & & & & &

Six $Big$Ideas$in$the $Constitution $

Activity 1, Handout 1 Answer Key:$

Outlining the Text

Count& the words in each article and calculate the percentage of the whole it& represents to

determine how much of the text& was dedicated to each structure or power.

Section$of the

Constitution

Number of

Words

Percentage$(of

4379$words)

Main Subject, Structure, or Power

Addressed in the Article

Preamble

We the people… form a& more perfect& Union

Article I

2268

The Legislative Branch

Article II

1025

The Executive Branch

Article III

377

The Judicial Branch

Article IV

330

The States

Article V

145

Amending the Constitution

Article VI

156

The Constitution is the Supreme Law

Article VII

Ratification

Mapping the Constitution

Represent& the percentages from the table above in a& visual form. Using& different& colors for each

of the Articles and the Preamble, color in the squares to represent& the percentage of the whole

Constitution that& is dedicated to each article. Each square& represents 1% of the document&

(round up or down as necessary).

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

80.

81.

82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

Center for Legislative Archives

National Archives and Records Administration

www.archives.gov/legislative

& & & &

& & & & &

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

$ $

& & & & & & & & & & & & & &

& & & & & & & &&

& &

& & & & & & & &

& & &

& &

& & & & & & & &

& & & & & &

& & & & & & & & &

& & &

& & & & & & &

& & & &

& & &

& & & & & & & &

& & &

& & & & & & & & & & &

& & &

& &

& & & & & &

& & & &

& & &

& & & & & &

& & &

& & & & & & & &

& & & & & & &

& & & & & & & & & & &

& & & & & & &

& &

& & &

& & & & & & &

& &

& & & &

& & & & & &

& & & & & & & &

& & & &

& &

& & & & & & &

Six $Big$Ideas$in$the $Constitution

Activity 4: Analyzing Primary Sources to Relate$ the$ Six$ Big Ideas to History

Answer Key

These are suggested answers. Additional matches could be correct. The strength of an answer

depends&on& the evidence cited by the students to support& it.

Title

NAID

Big Idea

Senate Revisions to House Proposed Amendments to the

U.S. Constitution, 09/09/1789

3535588

Limited Government

Act& of August& 6, 1965 (Voting Rights Act& of 1965), which

enforced the 15th amendment& to the Constitution,

08/06/1965

299909&

Republicanism

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, as Introduced, S.J. Res. 189,

08/04/1964

2127364

Separation of Powers

Selection from President& Andrew Jackson's Veto of the

Bank Recharter Bill, 07/10/1832

306427

Checks and Balances

Henry Clay's Resolutions on the Removal of Deposits

from the Bank of the United States, 12/23/1833

2127306

Checks and Balances

Letter from Mrs. E. Jackson in Favor of the Voting Rights

Act& of 1965, 03/08/1964

2173239

Popular Sovereignty

Senate joint& resolution declaring admission of Missouri

into the Union, 02/26/1821

306501

Republicanism

Joint& Resolution Proposing the Twenty-First& Amendment&

to the United States Constitution, 12/5/1932

596379

Separation of Powers

Certified Copies of the Official Correspondence by and

between His Excellency, Theodore Roosevelt, and the

Hon. John Sparks, Governor of Nevada, 12/1907&

295933

Federalism

Attempted Override of President& Richard Nixon's Veto of

S. 518, an Act& to Abolish the Offices of the Director and

Deputy Director of the Office of Management& and

Budget, 5/1973

2127368

Checks and Balances

Petition to Congress from Susan B. Anthony, Matilda&

Joselyn &Gage, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, ca. 01/1873

306687

Popular Sovereignty

Joint& Resolution Proposing the Seventeenth Amendment&

to the United States Constitution, 05/13/1912&

1408966

Federalism

Petition from the Union Fire Company in Lancaster,

Pennsylvania& in Support& of the Crittenden Compromise,&

ca. 1861

306495

Popular Sovereignty

Map of the United States Including Western Territories,&

12/1848

2127339

Federalism

Tally of the 1824 Electoral College Vote,& 02/09/1824

306207

Republicanism

Center for Legislative Archives

National Archives and Records Administration