( CNN Student News ) -- Students will explore contemporary applications of the U.S. Constitution . As a class , read out loud the Preamble to the Constitution . Have students dissect the Preamble into its words and phrases , and hold a class discussion on the original intent of the U.S. Constitution . Remind students that in 1787 , the framers of the U.S. Constitution established a federal system of government that divided power between the national and state governments . It also established the three branches of government : the legislative , the executive and the judicial . Federal powers listed in the Constitution include the rights to collect taxes , declare war and regulate trade . The national government also has implied powers that allow it to respond to the changing needs of the nation . Reserved powers belong to the people or the states . State powers include the right to legislate on marriage and divorce , public schools and the state 's militia . The right to freedom of speech , the right to own property and the right to be tried by a jury are examples of the powers reserved for the people of the United States . The Supreme Court has the final authority to interpret the Constitution . It can overturn any law that conflicts with any part of the Constitution . Ask students : Why do you think that the framers of the Constitution organized the U.S. system of government this way ? Next , organize students into five groups representing the following : the legislative branch , the executive branch , the judicial branch , the states and the people . Have each group investigate and list its powers as outlined in the U.S. Constitution : . 1 . Legislative Branch -- Article I . 2 . Executive Branch -- Article II . 3 . Judicial Branch -- Article III . 4 . States -- Article IV , Amendment 10 . 5 . People -- Bill of Rights , Amendments . Then , have the students consider their groups ' constitutional powers in a modern-day context . Ask : How might the system of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution be used to address current events ? Brainstorm with students a list of topics in the news , such as the economy , wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , health care and the environment . For each issue , have students generate critical questions that address what role , if any , government should play . ( Note : The questions will vary depending on the grade level and interest of the students . ) Reorganize students into groups of five , with each group having one representative from the executive , legislative and judicial branches , the states and the people . Then , assign one of the critical questions posed above to each group . Have groups prepare diagrams to illustrate what powers , if any , the federal or state governments or the people have in responding to these critical questions . Students should include the relevant text from the U.S. Constitution in their diagrams . After each group has presented its diagram , hold a class discussion on the following : . 1 . Has the original intent of the Constitution changed since it was written in 1787 ? 2 . How might the story of the U.S. read in the absence of a Constitution ? 3 . Why do you think that the framers of the Constitution organized the government into three branches ? 4 . What powers does the federal government have ? What powers are reserved for the states ? What powers are reserved for the people ? 5 . Why do you think that the document allowed for powers to be extended to individual states and citizens ? 6 . In what ways do you think that the U.S. Constitution is an effective document ? Curriculum Connections . National Standards for Civics and Government . 9-12 Content Standards . I . What Are Civic Life , Politics , and Government ? A . What is civic life ? What is politics ? What is government ? Why are government and politics necessary ? What purposes should government serve ? B . What are the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited government ? C. What are the nature and purposes of constitutions ? D. What are alternative ways of organizing constitutional governments ? II . What are the foundations of the American political system ? A . What is the American idea of constitutional government ? D. What values and principles are basic to American constitutional democracy ? III . How does the government established by the Constitution embody the purposes , values , and principles of American democracy ? A . How are power and responsibility distributed , shared , and limited in the government established by the United States Constitution ? B . How is the national government organized and what does it do ? C. How are state and local governments organized and what do they do ? D. What is the place of law in the American constitutional system ? V. What are the roles of the citizen in American democracy ? A . What is citizenship ? B . What are the rights of citizens ? C. What are the responsibilities of citizens ? The National Standards for Civics and Government ( http : //www.civiced.org/912erica.htm ) are published by the Center for Civic Education ( http : //www.civiced.org/index.php ) .
Students will identify contemporary applications of the U.S. Constitution .