Constitutional Amendment Research 11th Grade English

Essential Question: How have the Constitution and its amendments shaped American society?

Throughout this project, you are exploring how the constitutional amendment you have selected has impacted American society. Think about whether the rights protected by this amendment have made life better, worse, or different for Americans than for citizens of other countries. Ask yourself whether the amendment does enough to protect the identified rights, or if there is more that we need to do to protect them.

The Constitution & Amendments

The Courts & THe Constitution

Landmark cases have lasting historical and legal implications. These cases provide a legal precedent, and are frequently studied by students and scholars for years to come. The courts are tasked with interpreting the law as it applies to the given case, and they use the constitution and its amendments to justify their rulings. One of the best ways to understand how an amendment has helped shape American society is to examine how it has been used in court rulings.

Here are some resource to get you started. You can also try searching using some of these Boolean terms:

• "landmark case" and "_______ amendment"

• "court ruling" and "_______ amendment"

• "supreme court" and "______ amendment"

Search terms & Tips

Teaching Resources