CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS: A
REGENTS REVIEW
There are basic constitutional principles which have developed
over the nation’s history and which continue to challenge our nation
today. These principles are woven
throughout the eleventh grade American History curriculum. The following sites
will help you to understand the most important of these principles.
· HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND TO THE CONSTITUTION
1. The following video clip will provide a brief
background and review to the events that led to the creation of the
Constitution. At the conclusion of the
video you will need to hit the back button in order to return to this page.
PLAY VIDEO: 
(Remember
that you will need to type in the United Streaming user name and password.)
2. The
National Constitution Center provides a wealth of information for students of
the Constitution. The interactive
Constitution allows you to search the document by key word, topics of current
interest, or Supreme Court Cases.
· FEDERALISM: one of the most
significant contributions of the writers of the Constitution. Federalism is the division of power in the
United States between the national government and the individual state
governments. The following assignments allow you to review this important
Regent concept.
1. Read article provided by the Closeup Foundation
entitled “The New Federalism.” After
reading the article answer questions two and three. Place your responses on the answer sheet provided with this
project. To access the answer sheet,
click the button: ·
2. Be prepared to discuss in class question two relating
to who should control public education? The following link will bring you to
the site: http://www.closeup.org/federal.htm#overview
·CHECKS AND BALANCES:
1. The
following video clip provides a brief review of a significant constitutional
concept – the principle of checks
and balances.
2. Read
the following articles on Checks and Balances. After reading each article answer
the following questions on the enclosed worksheet: 1) define checks and
balances; 2) briefly discuss one example of checks and balances that is discussed
in each reading. The following links
will allow you to go to the required readings:
http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/side/checks.html
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0777009.html
· JUDICIAL REVIEW
1. The
following video clip provides a brief review of the constitutional principle of
judicial
review.
2. Read the article entitled “Supreme Court: A
Brief History.” At the conclusion of
the reading the site provides a search engine that will allow you to research
historic Supreme Court decisions.
Select a Supreme Court case that the class discussed this year. Be prepared to discuss both the historical
background of the case and the significance of the court’s decision. The following link will bring you to the
site: http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa081400a.htm
· FINAL REVIEW
The Oswego City School District has developed a Grade 11
American History and Government Regents review web page. This site provides students with many review
tools. The following button will
transport you to the multiple-choice section of the site entitled Formation
of Government. ·