Have students look up the word “constitution” in a good dictionary and then define it in their own words. Ask:
Why do you think a group of people living together would need a constitution?
What kinds of problems can a constitution prevent so that a group of people can live together harmoniously?
Why do you think countries such as Canada need a constitution?
What specific issues should a constitution cover?
Explain to students that they will be creating a constitution to govern the class. They will use the information they find on the topic Canada’s Constitutional Debate: What Makes a Nation? on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site to outline proposals for various parts of their constitution.
Divide the class into 10 groups and have each group explore the Web site. Students should pay particular attention to how a constitution outlines a country’s laws, decision-making processes, and the structure and functioning of the government.
Assign one of the following parts of a constitution to each of the 10 groups:
basic rules for the conduct of class members
how rules are decided
how rules are changed
how leaders are chosen
powers and responsibilities of leaders
basic rights and responsibilities of class members
how rights and responsibilities are protected/enforced
protection of the rights of minorities in the class
procedures for removing leaders who do not live up to their responsibilities
decision-making with the teacher
Using the information found on the Web site, each group will develop a list of proposals to deal with its assigned issue for the class constitution. Students should included reasons why each proposal is important to a class constitution. Groups should choose one member to present their ideas in a constitutional convention.
Before each group presents its proposals, decide as a class how to approve or reject each proposal (simple majority vote, two-thirds majority, unanimous consent, and so on). After each presentation, the class will vote on the proposals, select one for each issue, and record the terms of the class constitution.
As a class, review the class constitution and discuss to what degree students think the
constitution will regulate the actions of students and teachers.
Have students write a letter to a country just developing a constitution after many years without one. Students can outline the benefits of a constitution for the citizens of the country. They can warn the framers of the constitution about potential pitfalls and how to avoid them.
