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    The Constitution: Judge Rendell

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    Elmi Tv
    The document summarizes an interview between the Civics Kids and Judge Marjorie Rendell about the Constitution and the branches of US government. Judge Rendell explains that the Constitution establishes the duties of the president, legislature, and judicial branch. It also establishes a system of checks and balances between these branches to prevent one from having too much power. The Bill of Rights is described as the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect civil liberties. Judge Rendell encourages students to learn about civics and participate in their government by voting when eligible.

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    The Constitution: Judge Rendell

    Uploaded by

    Elmi Tv
    45 views4 pages
    The document summarizes an interview between the Civics Kids and Judge Marjorie Rendell about the Constitution and the branches of US government. Judge Rendell explains that the Constitution establishes the duties of the president, legislature, and judicial branch. It also establishes a system of checks and balances between these branches to prevent one from having too much power. The Bill of Rights is described as the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect civil liberties. Judge Rendell encourages students to learn about civics and participate in their government by voting when eligible.

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    The document summarizes an interview between the Civics Kids and Judge Marjorie Rendell about the Constitution and the branches of US government. Judge Rendell explains that the Constitution establishes the duties of the president, legislature, and judicial branch. It also establishes a system of checks and balances between these branches to prevent one from having too much power. The Bill of Rights is described as the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect civil liberties. Judge Rendell encourages students to learn about civics and participate in their government by voting when eligible.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    45 views4 pages

    The Constitution: Judge Rendell

    Uploaded by

    Elmi Tv
    The document summarizes an interview between the Civics Kids and Judge Marjorie Rendell about the Constitution and the branches of US government. Judge Rendell explains that the Constitution establishes the duties of the president, legislature, and judicial branch. It also establishes a system of checks and balances between these branches to prevent one from having too much power. The Bill of Rights is described as the first 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect civil liberties. Judge Rendell encourages students to learn about civics and participate in their government by voting when eligible.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    The Constitution

    A Signing of the Times!

    Judge Rendell
    4
    Insights & Inspirations!eY r
    aeH
    !eY rae
    H
    4 School Programs
    After
    erom d
    aeR
    !ti tuob
    a
    Sticky Situation. Smart Question.

    4 Voices
    Committed
    Say What You Mean.
    Mean What You Say.

    4
    Lesson 2
    Lesson 2: The Constitution
    4
    The Civics Kids interviewed the former First Lady
    of Pennsylvania and Third Circuit Court of Appeals
    Judge Marjorie Rendell as part of a homework as-
    signment to find out how the government works.
    When she was First Lady of Pennsylvania Judge Rendell traveled throughout the
    State to talk about the importance of citizenship. Carla remembers Judge Rendell
    visiting her school to conduct a mock trial with the fourth grade.

    We have been studying about the Constitution. Why is a piece of paper written
    over 220 years ago so important?
    Our Constitution establishes the duties and responsibilities of each part of our
    government. The government that it set up over 220 years ago still works today.

    What are the duties and responsibilities of the president?


    The President is the leader of the country. The President has the power to sign
    legislation and reject (veto) laws passed by Congress. The President also
    negotiates and signs treaties with other countries. These treaties have to then
    go to the Senate for their approval. The Constitution says a person who wants to
    run for President must be at least 35 years old, be born in the United States,
    and have lived in the U.S. for the past 14 years.

    What exactly is the legislature and what do they do?


    The Legislative branch - known as Congress - passes legislation, declares war, and
    confirms or rejects people who the President appoints. There are two groups who
    make up the Legislative Branch. They are the House of Representatives and the
    Senate. The House of Representatives is made up of 435 members who have been
    elected from all 50 states. They each serve a two-year term. The number of
    representatives from each state is determined by each state’s population. The
    Senate is made up of two members from each state. They each serve a six-year
    term. In order to pass legislation and send it to the President for his signature, a
    bill must pass the House and Senate by majority (more than half) vote. To override
    a presidential veto, each branch must pass a bill with a 2/3 vote.

    Lesson 2
    4
    Are there any other parts to our government?
    Yes. The final branch is the Judicial branch (my favorite). It is the branch that I am a part of.
    The Judicial branch includes one Supreme Court made up of nine judges and inferior courts.
    The courts interpret the law, determine if a law follows the Constitution, and applies the law
    to individual cases. According to the Constitution, the inferior courts are the United States
    District Courts and the 13 Appeals Courts which review District Court cases. I serve on the
    Third Circuit Court of Appeals which covers Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the
    Virgin Islands.

    Why are there so many parts? Why can’t there just be a president?
    The Founding Fathers did not want the power of our government to rest with just one
    individual as it had under the King of England. They felt that our government should be made
    up of branches that each have their own role. With this system of government, there would
    be a balance of power. Furthermore, the Constitution gives certain powers only to
    the national government and certain powers only to the state government.

    We are confused about the Bill of Rights: is it different than the Constitution?
    The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. These amendments were
    adopted a few years after the Constitution. The Bill of Rights, although just a small part of
    the Constitution, is a
    very important part.
    Couldn’t have
    How can I participate in said it better myself!
    my government?
    The right to vote is the most
    important way all citizens 18 years
    and older participate in our government. As young people, each of
    you should become aware of how our government works and what
    our government is doing to better prepare you for voting. Also, the
    government makes decisions that affect each of you. The more you
    know, the more you can use your voice to agree or disagree with what
    the government is doing that involves your world.

    * The Judicial branch includes one Supreme Court and inferior courts that are established by Congress.

    Lesson 2
    4
    Sticky Situation
    On the first day of school your teacher announced that all students who were not doing
    well in school would have to attend an after-school support program from 3:30 p.m. to
    5:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. The teacher told your class that this was a new rule that was
    developed by the local school board. You are having a challenging time in math but do
    not want to stay after school. You feel that Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:00 is your time to
    play with friends.
    What would you do? Why?
    Do you have an alternative
    to the new plan?
    Civic Literacy Links
    The Constitution
    • A More Perfect Union: The Story of the Constitution by Betsy Maestro
    • I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric Kimmel
    • Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
    • We the Kids by David Catrow
    • Schoolhouse Rock: Constitution Preamble: Youtube.com
    • Constitution Day: Scholastic:
    http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/constitution_day

    H e a r Y o u r V o ic e s !
    t’s is a lot of talk about building student voice in classrooms across the
    LeThere
    country. One way to build student voice is to get students more active on decision
    making committees.
    Is there a committee in your school in which you would like to be an active member?
    Or... is there a committee that you would like to form and on which you would like
    to be active that looks at school issues?
    H Write your idea on one of the index cards and post it on the Student Voices Bulletin Board.
    H We will take a look at everyone’s ideas at a class meeting!

    Lesson 2
    4

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