•• Russia

United Kingdom - 1215 YOUR TASK:

•• Cuba
USA - 1789 • All of these countries have a
•• Iraq
Australia - 1901 written constitution, or
•• United
India - Kingdom
1949 written element of their
constitution.
•• India
France - 1958 • Place them in order from
•• North
NorthKorea
Korea - 1972 the earliest date in which
•• Thailand
Cuba - 1976 the constitution was
•• USA
China - 1982 enacted.
•• France
Russia - 1993 • In other words, list them in
•• Australia
Iraq - 2005 order of the age of their
constitution.
•• China
Thailand - 2014
 Enquiry Question:
How much impact does the constitution have on
contemporary US government?
 Learning Outcomes
• To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
• To debate the extent to which the constitution still
influences contemporary government
• To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of
reform
 'Gridlock is an inevitable consequence of the US
system of government.’ How far do you agree?

Gridlock can be
defined as the
situation that
arises when
legislation
faces
difficulties in
being passed
due to
different party
control in the
legislature or
executive.
 To apply the concept of gridlock to the United States, it can
occur in two places. Firstly if the House of Representatives and
Senate are controlled by different parties, then the passage of
legislation will be difficult.
 The second instance is when Congress happens to be united
under one party, yet the Presidency is controlled by the opposing
party. This second instance happens far more than the first, but
both instances can cause the passage of legislation to be slow.
 If parties are polarized then the ideological gap between will be
wide and therefore far less legislation will get passed.

However, if the ideologies of the parties are closer, or both

'moderate' congressmen, then far more legislation will get passed.
Gridlock and the
Constitution
YOUR TASK:
Complete the
sentences below;
• The constitution
allows gridlock to
happen by…
• The constitution
makes gridlock
more likely
because…
• Gridlock benefits
the people
because…
 Learning Outcomes
• To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
• To debate the extent to which the constitution still
influences contemporary government
• To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of
reform
 Considering Constitutional
Questions
YOUR TASK:
Using the article “Reappraisal of the US Constitution” and other
resources available to you, answer the following questions.
1. What is meant by 'the Constitution is a living, growing
document'?
2. Explain the part played by judicial review in changing the US
constitution.
3. What is 'divided government' and how might it be prevented?
4. How fair is the criticism that the US Constitution is 'too
adaptive'?
5. To what extent do you agree that 'the three branches of
government are out of synch'?
6. What areas of the US Constitution are in need of reform?
7. Explain why reform is unlikely to happen.
 Analysing Constitutional
Documents
YOUR TASK:
• Read the constitution.
• Highlight any aspects of the
constitution which are not still
applicable to contemporary
government and politics in the
USA.
• Annotate these aspects of the
constitution to explain how and
why they have changed.
 ‘Transformed beyond recognition from the vision of the Founding
Fathers.’ Discuss this view of the modern US constitution.

YOUR TASK: For each of the arguments find TWO examples or pieces of
evidence which support this argument to complete your worksheet,
then evaluate each argument.
– What makes this a strong argument?
– What makes this argument unconvincing?
 Learning Outcomes
• To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
• To debate the extent to which the constitution still
influences contemporary government
• To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of
reform
 Breaking News:
Constitution is “EVIL”!
• Many Americans were shocked to learn about Georgetown
University Professor Louis Michael Seidman's advocation
for the U.S. to abandon the Constitution — the central
document that has helped spawn America's growth and
progression for hundreds of years.
• The constitutional expert recently noted his belief (via an
op-ed) that a blind allegiance to the outdated document is
perilous.
• Here, he defended his controversial views about some
purportedly "evil" provisions in the Constitution in an
interview
Watch the video clip!
The Constitution needs to be reformed
because…
• there are too many checks and
balances, with the consequence that
the system can become gridlocked
• the difficulty of amending it and the
survival of (arguably) archaic elements
such as the second amendment
• the power of judicial review has
created an ‘imperial judiciary’
• the unrepresentative nature of the
Senate
• the archaic mechanism of the Electoral
College can mean that winner of the
popular vote is denied the presidency
• House elections are too frequent,
meaning that representatives are
constantly campaigning
• lack of term limits in Congress creates
an unrepresentative elite
The Constitution does not need to be
reformed because…
• a degree of ‘gridlock’ ensures that ill-
thought out policy cannot be rushed
through
• the constitution is sufficiently vague to
allow necessary changes to occur, e.g.
power has moved from Congress to the
executive and the states to the federal
government to meet societal needs
• the constitution has been amended to
reflect changes in values, e.g the
Senate is now elected by popular vote
• both the Senate and the Electoral
College are an important element of
the federal identity of the constitution
• it has survived for 200+ years
 Learning Outcomes
• To explain how the constitution can create ‘gridlock’
• To debate the extent to which the constitution still
influences contemporary government
• To evaluate how far the constitution is in need of
reform
 Slavery and the US Constitution
One of the biggest criticisms of What does
the constitution is the references
the document makes to slavery. the 13th
U.S. Constitution Day is on
These have not been removed 17th.
Septemberamendment
from the constitution, but have protect?
been changed through the 13th
amendment. Watch the
video clip!

• Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3: the Three-Fifths Compromise

• Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1: Slave Importation
• Article IV, Section 2, Clause 3: Fugitive Slave Clause
Watch the video clip!
 Homework
Application Task:
To what extent is the constitutional system of
checks and balances an obstacle to effective
government?
Flipped Learning Preparation Task:
Strengths and weaknesses of the constitution
(Pearson p334-336)
Stretch & Challenge Task
Article: America’s Fragile Constitution