Constitution+DayMS

While attempting to become the Republican candidate for President in 2008, Fred Thompson said, "//I do not believe the Constitution is a **living, breathing document**. I am committed to appointing strict constructionist judges to the bench if I am elected President, strict constructionists who believe the Constitution has a fixed meaning that can be applied to cases that come before the courts today. They do NOT believe the Constitution is a living, breathing document, whose meaning, constantly changing with the sifting sands of our culture, can be determined and applied by unelected judges."//

Al Gore made the following statement while running for President in 2000: //"I would look for justices of the Supreme Court who understand that our Constitution is a **living and breathing document**, that it was intended by our founders to be interpreted in the light of the constantly evolving experience of the American people.//"

Who was right?

Prove that the Constitution should be "living and breathing" document or Prove that the Constitution should be "living and breathing" document         This is our project...  =__**0:00-0:15 Small Talk and What is the Constitution**__=


 * __Say hello and make small talk about things going on in the person's life. List a few things you could talk about with your person.__

1.** Gerry was very upset with the Boston Tea party.
 * 2. Joined Congress on February 9, 1776 and served until September 1785

3. Married Ann, a women who was educated in Europe, and had three sons and four daughters.

__Remind him what the Constitution is__

1. The constitution is a document of the utmost importance to our country. The definition of the constitution according to dictionary.com is the US document** written at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and subsequently ratified by the original thirteen states. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/US%20constitution wrong!!! They spelled it Pensylvania. =**__0:15-0:30__**=
 * 2. In the document the words The united States of America were writen for the first formal time** **3. Even though the constitution is a very important document, above the signers names they spelled the word Pennsylvania**


 * __Why is it "living or breathing?" or Why is it not "living and breathing?"__**
 * 1.We feel that the Constitution is a living and breathing document.** **It is a living, breathing document because just like a living breathing human, it has changed throughout all it's "life."** **2. The Constitution writers knew it was living and breathing**

3. The constitution never mentioned the word "democracy" which is a huge part of our government today. This shows that our country's government has changed with us, and the constitution changes it's meaning according to our needs.

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 * __What is your proof?__** **The amendments are changes made to our constitution over the years. One of the Amendments, Amendment 13, states "**Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their [|jurisdiction]." If it weren't for this Amendment, we would still have slavery in the U.S.

Another example of an amendment is amendment 19, of Women's suffrage. It states "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." If it weren't for this Amendment, we women wouldn't be able to vote. With all the women in the world, that makes a huge difference. http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am13.html


 * 3.Even the writers of the Constitution knew it was a living breathing document and was subject to change. They wrote an article allowing future Congress members to amend the Constitution according to the citizens' needs.**Article 5 states: **"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution..****."**

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 * 4. In article 4 section 4 of the Constitution, it guarentees that every state will have a republican form of government.** "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a [|Republican] Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion..."
 * though today, we have a democratic form of government as well.** 5. Another example of changes in the constitution is Amendment 21 section 3. It says: "The article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution..." This Amendment is referring to the 18th Amendment which prohibits use of intoxicating liquor for beverage purposes. This

http://www.usconstitution.net/declarsigndata.html http://www.elbridgegerry.com/ Us: Hello, Elbridge Gerry? It's us, Megan, Lauren, and Mallorie. Elbridge: Oh, hello there! Us: How are you, are you still upset over the Boston Tea Party? I heard that it irritated you. Elbridge: Yes that was quite upsetting, but that's all in the past now. So much has happened since then! I joined Congress on February 9, three years after that. Us: That's great! So... how's the Mrs? Elbridge: Ann is doing great, and we have seven children now. Well, enough about me, what about you? Us: Well, actually, we were calling about the Constitution. You know, the document written at the Constitutional Convention Center in Philadelphia. Elbridge: Oh yes! That was way back in 1787. That was the first formal time the words "The United States of America" were written. Wasn't it ratified by all thirteen states? Us: Well, it **was** ratified by thirteen states, but now there are fifty. Elbridge: My oh my! Things sure have changed since I wore a younger man's clothes. Us: You know they spelled Pennsylvania wrong. It was right above where you signed it, I don't know how you missed it. Elbridge: Well, tell that to Jacob Shallus. He's the one who wrote it, not me! Us: Well, we would love to keep talking, but we've got to get down to business. We feel that the Constitution is a living and breathing document, but not everyone agrees. (cough cough) Fred Thompson. We feel so strongly about this that we decided to call you to see what you think, since you witnessed and took part in the signing of it. We came up with some reasons that we think prove our opinion. Elbridge: All right, I'm listening... Us: We belive that it is a living, breathing document because just like a living breathing human, it has changed throughout all it's life, metaphorically speaking. Some examples of this change are the 27 Amendments. The amendments are changes made to our constitution over the years. One of the Amendments, Amendment 13, states "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." If it weren't for this Amendment, we would still have slavery in the U.S. Another example of an amendment is amendment 19, of Women's suffrage. It states "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." If it weren't for this Amendment, we women wouldn't be able to vote. With all the women in the world, that makes a huge difference. In addition to both of these, Amendment 21 section 3 repeals Amendment 18 which abolished the manufacture, sale, and transportation liquor as a beverage. It says:"The article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution..." Elbridge: That is a wonderful point. Please continue. Us: Thank you. We belive that even the writers of the Constitution knew that this document was subject to change. They wrote an article allowing future Congress members to amend the Constitution according to the citizens' needs. They wrote:"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution and etc..." Elbridge: Yes I do remember that. Article 5 wasn't it? Us: Yes, it was. You know, the Constitution never mentioned the word "democracy" which is a huge part of our government today. This shows that our country's government has changed with us, and the constitution changes it's meaning according to our needs. In article 4 section 4 of the Constitution, it guarentees that every state will have a republican form of government. It says:"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion and etc..."Today, we have both democratic and republican forms of government in the U.S. Elbridge: Democracy! Well, things have changed more than I thought. Hmmmm.... Us: So Elbridge, what are your thoughts on our research? Elbridge: Excellent work, children. I'll mull it over and get back to you. Us: Of course. Thank you for your time! Hope to hear from you soon! Elbridge: Until then.
 * Be creative!!**    Elbridge Gerry Birth- 7/17/1744 Birthplace- Marblehead, MA State- Massachusetts Death- 11/23/1814 Wife- Ann Thompson Father- Thomas Gerry Feb. 9, 1776 took seat on congress  http://www.elbridgegerry.com/