The Constitution & Bill of Rights
📋 What it is
A constitution is the top rulebook that sets up the government and limits its power; rights protect people.
🗣️ Coach says
A constitution is a country's HIGHEST rulebook — it sets up the government AND limits what it can do. A bill of rights lists freedoms the government cannot take away (speech, fair trials). The big idea: even the government must follow the rules. That protects everyone.
🧠 Memory hook
Constitution = top rulebook that BUILDS + LIMITS government. Rights = freedoms it can't take away.
😂 Giggle
Why is the Constitution like a good Wi-Fi connection?
Because it gives everyone the right to free speech!
😲 Whoa!
A constitution is deliberately hard to change — so a temporary majority can't easily strip away people's basic rights.
✅ Quick check: Why does a constitution LIMIT the government's power, not just set it up?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
So the government itself must follow the rules and cannot take away people's basic rights.
Limiting government power protects citizens from abuse — even the powerful must obey the top rulebook.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Name one freedom you think a government should never be able to take away.