Complete all five steps of this activity. 1. Read the excerpt from the preamble of the Declaration of Independence aloud to a group of your classmates or your teacher:
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”

2. Describe to your classmates what the preamble means to America today.

3. Study the principles of government and complete the chart.

Checks and Balances – each branch of government may check the actions of the other branches

Federalism – a system of government in which the central government and the states share power

Individual Rights – a personal liberty and privilege guaranteed to U. S. citizens

Limited Government – all U. S. citizens, including government leaders, are required to obey the law

Popular Sovereignty – a government system in which the people rule, typically by voting to decide an issue

Republicanism – government based on the consent of the people that is executed by electing political representatives to represent the people

Separation of Powers – government is divided into multiple branches to limit the possibility of the abuse of power

Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence

Principle of Government

Relationship Between the Principle and the Text

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal…

…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…

…that to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men…

…deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed...

4. Describe three ways in which the ideas from the preamble of the Declaration of Independence are reflected in the U. S. Constitution.

5. Read the Bill of Rights. Create a song or small poster about one of the amendments. Your creative work must include the following:
• the amendment’s number

• the entire text of the amendment

• a photo, drawing, or verbal description of the amendment in action

• a description of how the amendment is important to Americans today

If you choose to create a small poster, you will upload it after this Lesson.