The Supreme Law
Who's the boss of the President?
The 15 questions in this topic
- 1What is the form of government of the United States?
- 2What is the supreme law of the land?
- 3Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.
- 4The U.S. Constitution starts with the words "We the People." What does "We the People" mean?
- 5How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
- 6What does the Bill of Rights protect?
- 7How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
- 8Why is the Declaration of Independence important?
- 9What founding document said the American colonies were free from Britain?
- 10Name two important ideas from the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
- 11The words "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" are in what founding document?
- 12What is the economic system of the United States?
- 13What is the rule of law?
- 14Many documents influenced the U.S. Constitution. Name one.
- 15There are three branches of government. Why?
Transcript
Rafa: Relax, Mom. I was born here: I know them all.
Lupe: What is the supreme law of the land?
Rafa: Easy: whatever the President says. And George Washington wrote the Constitution… on a napkin.
Lupe: Mmm… The President?
Rafa: … Why did she get the red stamp?
Grandpa: Rewind.
Grandpa: The supreme law of the land is the Constitution. Not even the President is above it.
Grandpa: It starts with three words: We the People. It means the people govern themselves.
Grandpa: And you don't erase it: you amend it. It has twenty-seven amendments. The first ten are the Bill of Rights.
Grandpa: Okay, like at the interview. What is the supreme law of the land?
Rafa: The Declaration of Independence!
Grandpa: Rafa! That one said we were free from Britain. The supreme law is a different one.
Lupe: The Constitution.
Grandpa: Good. Another one: How many amendments does the Constitution have?
Lupe: Twenty-seven.
Lupe: Your turn, mijo, you were born here: What does the Bill of Rights protect?
Rafa: Mmm… The rights of Americans?
Grandpa: There. Now we're talking.
Lupe: My first stamp in the passport!
Grandpa: One out of twenty, Lupe. Good start.
Grandpa: Now, your ear. This is how the officer will ask you. Listen, answer out loud… then repeat after me.
Officer: What is the supreme law of the land?
Grandpa: The Constitution. Con-sti-TOO-shun: the stress is on TOO.
Officer: The U.S. Constitution starts with the words We the People. What does We the People mean?
Grandpa: Self-government. SELF-GUV-ern-ment: the people govern themselves.
Officer: How are changes made to the U.S. Constitution?
Grandpa: Amendments. Uh-MEND-ments.
Officer: How many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
Grandpa: Twenty-seven. TWEN-tee SEV-en.
Officer: What does the Bill of Rights protect?
Grandpa: The basic rights of Americans.
Lupe: I know all five now!
Grandpa: Say them out loud every day, Lupe. At the interview they'll come out on their own.
Rafa: And me, born right here… I finally learned them too!