Summary
The U.S. Constitution opens with the words "We the people." It's a perfect start for a document that lays out the basic rules of a democracy! At a time when most countries were ruled by kings and queens, the founders of the United States wanted a system in which <i>everyone</i> has to follow the law. So, the Framers wrote a constitution based on a few core principles. One is popular sovereignty, the idea that the power to rule belongs to the people. Since we can't all weigh in on every decision, we elect leaders to represent us in Washington. To prevent those leaders from grabbing too much power, the Constitution puts limits on the government. For example, in addition to sharing power with the states, the federal government is split into three branches to prevent any one branch from getting too powerful. The Framers knew the country would grow and evolve, so they also included rules to add amendments, or changes, to the Constitution itself. Yes, it's the supreme law of the land—but it's also a living document that can adapt to changing times while holding to its core principles. Click "play" to learn more!
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching U.S. Constitution:
- What is one new thing you learned about u.s. constitution?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining u.s. constitution.
- Draw or give one example of your own.