Learning Objectives

Students will be able to...

  • Explain the general differences between the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions.
  • Identify how state constitutions might guarantee more or broader rights than the U.S. Constitution using the Florida Constitution as an example.
  • Analyze the differences between amending the U.S. Constitution and amending state constitutions, using the Constitution of Virginia as an example.
  • Compare the constitution of their own state with the U.S. Constitution.

Overview

If you’ve seen one constitution, have you seen them all?  Compare and contrast the provisions of the U.S. Constitution alongside the state constitutions of Florida and Virginia. Find common ways in which state constitutions differ from (and are similar to) the U.S. Constitution, and take a closer look at your own state constitution.  

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