AP GOVERNMENT PROJECT –CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

In this project, you and one partner will present two constitutional amendments to the class. Your
project can be presented in many different formats (traditional presentation, PowerPoint, music video,
live skit, game show, recorded media, podcast, photo story, etc.). All projects must include the
following concepts regarding each amendment:

Amendment overview

• Summary of amendment

• Amendment ratification date

• Political party, politician, or interest that initially proposed amendment

Historical context

• Historical events taking place at the time

• Social issues

• Effect after passage

• Public support at the time of passage

Political context

• Political support at the time of passage

• Policy implications

• Political challenges/challengers

Modern issues

• Today’s debate

• Recent developments

• Proposals to amend the amendment (if applicable)

• Groups that support the amendment (PACs)

• Public support today

Assigned amendments ____________________________________________________________

Online Resources:
• http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

Provides actual language of the amendments, notes, and history of the amendments

• http://www.shmoop.com/constitution/first-amendment.html

An education resource site that provides nice summaries of all the amendments

• http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/

An online law encyclopedia that contains detailed summaries of all of the amendments.

• http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

Provides actual language of the amendments, and some background on the 13 amendment
th

• http://electoralcollegehistory.com/electoral/crs-congress.asp

Provides a detailed summary of the 12th amendment

• http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/amendment.htm

Background summary of 13th amendment

• http://www.history.com/topics/emancipation-proclamation

Provides the history of events that lead to the passage of the 13th amendment. Also provides a
summary of the 13th amendment.

• http://www.history.com/topics/thirteenth-amendment

Continued brief description of the 13th amendment

• http://www.history.com/topics/fourteenth-amendment

History of the 14th amendment – Multimedia content

• http://www.history.com/topics/fifteenth-amendment

Brief history of the 15th amendment and full text version

• http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/CivilWarRecon.html

Summary and background of 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments

• http://www.history.com/topics/19th-amendment

History of the 19th amendment – multimedia content

• http://www.history.com/topics/the-26th-amendment