An episode from the PBS "America From Scratch" series asks the question of whether or not the United States Constitution should be rewritten. Legal experts from around the world weigh in on the very weighty question. The video ends with the narrator challenging viewers to consider what they think should be done and to whom they would assign the task.

Concepts

the united states constitution, civic duty, constitutional amendments, the founding fathers, cultural values, american values, democratic values

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Plan to include the final challenge—asking groups to identify who they would designate to rewrite the Constitution and explain the rationale for their choices
• As a class, read Kurt Vonnegut's short story, "Harrison Bergeron" and discuss the satire in terms of the 213 amendments

Classroom Considerations

• Knowledge of the writing of the United States Constitution is required
• Requires individual copies of the worksheet

Pros

• The resource includes a worksheet with pre-viewing, viewing, and post-viewing questions

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.7.3 SL.8.3 SL.9-10.3 SL.11-12.3