Overview
Does the Constitution still serve us today? Should it be updated? If so, how? In this video, individuals share their thoughts on the United States Constitution and whether or not it needs to be changed. This lesson explores varying perspectives on the Constitution’s relevance and the possibility of amending it to better serve the nation’s evolving needs.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Government
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• summarize the historical significance of the United States Constitution in shaping the nation’s governance;
• explain diverse perspectives held by individuals regarding the Constitution, including its strengths and potential shortcomings; and
• analyze proposed changes to the Constitution, such as term limits, amendments, and limitations on government power and evaluate the merits of these proposals.

Key concepts and terms covered
Commerce Clause, Eminent Domain, Prohibition, and Term Limits.

Sample discussion questions
• What is the Constitution and why is it significant to the United States?
• What do you think about some people John interviewed had no opinion about the Constitution? Why do you think that is?
• What are amendments in the context of the Constitution and why are they important?
• What is the role of the Supreme Court regarding the Constitution?
• The Framers believed in “natural rights,” meaning the Bill of Rights provides protection of rights Americans already have. Natural rights proponents say that rights are not granted by the Constitution; rather, they are protected by the Constitution. Why is that an important distinction to understand? 10.Should the protection of Americans’ right to free speech be removed or limited? Why or why not? 11.What about hate speech? Do you agree with the man who said that so as long as there's no action to physically harm somebody, we should keep free speech? If not, who gets to decide what hate speech is or is not? 12.In the video, Michael Malice said that if you look at the First Amendment, it says that the right of people to peaceably assemble shall not be infringed. He pointed out that almost no one bothered to invoke clause to fight the lockdowns and quarantining. Should government—which is supposed to be limited by the Constitution—be allowed to declare emergencies and take away our rights? 13.One of the people interviewed said that because we have police and military, we no longer need the right to own guns. Do police protect us or deal with criminals after crimes have been committed? Is the right to bear arms to protect us from criminals? 14.While the authors of the Constitution did provide us with a way to change it, they made it a challenging process. Why do you think they made it difficult? 15.The Tenth Amendment says that any powers not specifically given to the federal government are reserved to the States or to the people. Why is that important? Does our government today respect those boundaries or has the federal government grown beyond its constitutional scope? Why does that matter?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 8-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.