Learn how the United States Constitution is organized and how it explains the plan for the national government.
Read each problem carefully. Use complete sentences when answering. Show your thinking in the space provided.
Exploring the parts of the Constitution and why they matter
Social Studies - Grade 4-5
- 1
What is the main purpose of the United States Constitution?
- 2
The Constitution begins with a short introduction called the Preamble. What does the Preamble explain?
- 3
Fill in the blank: The Constitution creates a government with three branches: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the __________ branch.
- 4
What is the job of the legislative branch?
- 5
What is the job of the executive branch?
- 6
What is the job of the judicial branch?
- 7
Why did the writers of the Constitution divide the government into three branches?
- 8
The Constitution includes a system called checks and balances. Explain what checks and balances means in your own words.
- 9
Which part of the Constitution lists the first ten amendments?
- 10
What is an amendment to the Constitution?
- 11
Why is it important that the Constitution can be amended?
- 12
Look at the three parts of the Constitution: Preamble, Articles, and Amendments. Put them in the order they appear in the Constitution.
- 13
The Articles of the Constitution explain how the government is organized. Name one thing the Articles describe.
- 14
Explain one way the Constitution protects the rights of citizens.
- 15
A class is making a poster about the Constitution. Write one clear sentence they could put on the poster to explain why the Constitution is important.