Student Web Activity Lesson Plans

Chapter 23: State Governments

Introduction
Like the U.S. Constitution, every state constitution provides information about the responsibilities of the three branches of state and local governments. State constitutions also describe the ways state and local governments can raise and spend money. In addition, state constitutions include bills of rights and amendments. In this activity, students will locate and browse various state constitutions as well as their own state's constitution.

Lesson Description
Students will explore a Web site of state constitutions. They will scan several documents, and answer four questions. Students will then summarize in an outline the articles, sections, and amendments in their state's constitution.

Instructional Objectives

Learners will compare several state constitutions.
Learners will recognize what types of information the various states believe are important to include in their constitutions.
Learners will comprehend the articles, sections, and amendments of their own state's constitution.

Student Web Activity Answers

1901; 18 articles; 287 sections; 799 amendments
The inalienable rights in Nevada's constitution are: "enjoying and defending life and liberty; Acquiring, Possessing and Protecting property and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness[.]"
Section 15a. of Oregon's constitution gives the governor the power to veto single items in appropriations bills as well as any provision in new emergency bills without affecting any other provisions in the bills.
July 3, 1890; Article XVI gives Idaho's legislature the power to "pass all necessary laws to provide for the protection of livestock against the introduction or spread of pleuro pneumonia, glanders, splenetic or Texas fever, and other infectious or contagious diseases. The legislature may also establish a system of quarantine or inspection and such other regulations as may be necessary for the protection of stock owners and most conducive to the stock interests within this state."
Students should provide an outline summary of their state constitution's articles, sections, and amendments.