What Does the Constitution Do?

Lyrics

Chorus
What does the Constitution do?
What does the Constitution say?
Well listen up and I’ll tell you
About the Constitution

Verse I
Article I establishes the Congress
It might seem simple but there’s guidelines beyond this
So follow along, y’all, we’re in for the long haul
As we explore the details of Congressional Protocol

The House of Representatives, yo, it’s mad large
435 representatives in all
They serve for two years, bigger states get more
But you can’t be a congressman if you’re only 24,

Now in the upper house of Congress, the one called the Senate
There’s 100 Senators under the Vice President
Two from every state with a six-year limit,
But you’ve gotta be 30 or else you can’t be in it

The rest of the article sets some more rules
Talks about the powers and the limits, too
But we got six more articles left to go
So if you’re enjoying, join in, and check the flow

Chorus

Verse II
Article II sets forth the executive branch
You’ve got president, vice president, and all that
The president has gotta American-born,
35 years of age or more

The rest of the article says what being President’s about:
His powers, his duties, and how we can kick him out
He’s Commander-in-Chief of all the military
But let’s get to Article III, about the judiciary

It sets up the Court Supreme
With justices regarded in the highest esteem
They serve for life, during all four seasons
And article III, it also defines treason

We’ve got three articles, we’re almost half done
So let’s review: we first had Article I
About the legislative branch; executive was II,
Judicial was III. Now you’re good? Let’s continue.

Chorus

Verse III
Next we got Article IV. It mandates that
The laws of one state are honored by the other states
It also promises full protections
Against invasions or insurrections

Article V describes how we can amend it:
2/3 of each Houses must recommend it
Then 3/4 of the states gotta approve
See, changing up the Constitution’s not an easy move

Article VI says this document’s the law of the land
And officials of the government must raise their hand
And swear an oath to uphold it, in every situation
And also swear allegiance to the U.S. nation

Article VII, there’s not much to it
Says if 9 of the colonies approve then we can use it
Now, every single one of them said it was OK
So the Constitution survives into the present day!

Now we’ve gone through the Articles, I through VII
We went kind of fast, so if you have any questions
Go back to the top, even make your own edits
A couple times through, I know you’re gonna get it

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Description

This song teaches the contents of Articles I to VII of the Constitution. It explains the structure of the US government including Congress, the executive branch, including President and Vice President, as well as the Supreme Court and its justices. It also discusses state's rights, Constitutional amendments, and approval of the Constitution. The teaching materials at the bottom of the page, including videos, lesson plans, worksheets, and activities help teachers and homeschool parents generate teaching ideas for the song topics. Students will better understand Articles I to VII of the Constitution.

This social studies song is suitable to help teach the US Constitution and Constitution Day to elementary school students (4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade), middle school, high school, home school, and college classes.

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Related Reading and Activities

Reading

bensguide.gpo.gov
The Constitution of the United States
Provides a comprehensive history of the Constitution and a detailed summary of the document’s main points. Contains games (both print and interactive), glossary, links to US Government sites, etc. Excellent resource!
Individual pages for K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12

archives.gov
The Constitution
Features complete transcript of the Constitution and links to resources which describe its formation. Section with bios on all the signers. Excellent site for extra credit work.

Congressforkids.net
The Constitution
Information about the writing of the Constitution its signers and all the Amendments, as well as the Great Compromise.
For younger students

USConstitution.net
US Constitution: Related: Not!
This site lists topics or ideas commonly believed to be addressed as part of the Constitution but in fact are not. Information about these topics tells where to find the topic or issue in other documents. Excellent for class discussion.

Lesson Plans & Activities

Constitutionfacts.com
Lots of facts, games, puzzles and interesting information.
Grades 6-12

Col-ed.org [Columbia Education Center]
The Constitution - Behind Closed Doors
Activity is a staging of the Constitutional Convention. Students are assigned a role and position to debate.
Grades 8-12

How a Bill Becomes a Law
Lesson plan suggests several activities for students to better understand the process through which bills become laws. Activity ideas include inviting a Congressman to class and examining newspapers to see what kinds of bills are currently being voted on.
Grades 7-9

How an Idea Becomes a Law
Poster-making activity that teaches students the 14-step process for an idea to become law. This activity emphasizes the process used in creating laws.
Grades 6-9

Human Bingo
A Constitution-themed bingo game for the 8^th grade classroom. Involves interaction between students.

US Constitution and Amendments
Activities encourage students to view the Constitution as a living document, not just historical artifact. Included are examining newspapers to find ways that the Constitution is currently affecting us and assigning groups specific pieces of the Preamble to analyze. Excellent way to break down and understand the various powers and responsibilities inherent in the Constitution.
Grades 4-12

We the People
Activities suggest students compare our current world with how it would be without a government. Goal is to have students understand the importance of established rule.
Grades 5-8

Eduref.org [The Educator’s Reference Desk]
The Constitution: Our Plan for Government
Teacher-submitted lesson plans. Suggestions for helping students understand basic parts of government, from what the Constitution says to what each branch of government does. Also recommends students use relevant newspaper articles that apply.
Grades 8-9

US Constitution and Amendments
Lesson plan has the goal of teaching students about the Constitution’s constant presence in our lives through debate and a project with newspaper articles.
Grades 4-12

dirksencenter.org [The Dirksen Congressional Center]
Class Constitution
Using the US Constitution as a guide, the activity asks students to write a classroom constitution.
Grades 6-12

Media

BrainPOP.com
US Constitution (video) (log-in required)
Tim and Moby unpack the meaning behind the U.S. Constitution. Teaches the founding fathers’ plan for the government and the seven principles on which the Constitution is based.

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State Standards

State standards listed here are representative of school standards across the United States.

California

8.2 - Analyze political principles underlying U.S. Constitution. Compare enumerated and implied powers of federal government.

Florida

SS.7.C.1.7 - Describe how Constitution limits powers of gov't through separation of powers and checks and balances.
SS.7.C.3.3 - Illustrate structure and function of 3 branches of gov't in US as established in the Constitution.
SS.7.C.3.5 - Explain the constitutional amendment process.

Illinois

14.A.3 - Describe how responsibilities are shared and limited by the United States a Illinois Constitutions, and significant court decisions.
14.B.3 - Identify and compare the basic political systems of Illinois and the United States as prescribed in their constitutions.
14.F.3a - Analyze historical influences on the development of political ideas and practices as enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Illinois Constitution.
14.F.3b - Describe how United States political ideas and traditions were instituted in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
16.B.3b(US) - Explain how and why the colonies fought for their independence and how the colonists’ ideas are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
16.B.3c(US) - Describe the way the Constitution has changed over time as a result of amendments and Supreme Court decisions.

Massachusetts

USI.7 - Explain roles of founders at Constitutional Convention. Describe major debates occurring at Convention and “Great Compromise” (H, C)
USI.8 - Explain debate over ratification of Constitution between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Also key ideas in Federalist Papers on federalism, factions, checks and balances and the importance of independent judiciary. (H, C)

New York

S.1.I.1 - N.Y.State and U.S.history requires analysis of American culture, diversity/multicultural context and the ways people unified by values/practices/ traditions. (Standard 1)

Texas

8.5 - Understand challenges confronted by gov't and leaders in early years of Republic.
8.16 - Understand American beliefs/ principles reflected in Constitution/ other important historical documents.

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