September 15, 2015

THE BASICSTopic: Birthright Citizenship and Constitution Day

Articles

“Commentary: A deeper debate on immigration is welcome” (Chicago Tribune) “Conservative Latino Group Pens Letter Opposing GOP Immigration Rhetoric” (NPR) “Donald Trump and Scott Walker want to repeal birthright citizenship. It’s nearly impossible.” (The

Washington Post) “Birthright citizenship looming as a campaign, and constitutional issue” (Constitution Daily)

Opinion pieces “What is an American?” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) “Birthright citizenship is a fundamental American right” (Statesman Journal) “Today’s anti-immigrant GOP risks betraying its legacy” (Boston Globe)

Questions to Consider

Who is a citizen of the United States? Where do we find the definition of citizenship? Why are the definitions of migrant, refugee, asylum seeker and immigrant important in deciding

what rights people have? What is the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution? What is birthright citizenship? What is an “anchor” baby? Why might this be an offensive term? What do other countries’ constitutions say about birthright citizenship? (Constitution Center)

Questions to Consider continued…

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day in United States

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a combined event that is annually observed in

the United States on September 17. This event commemorates the formation and signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787. It also

recognizes all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become US citizens.

Does birthright citizenship apply to the American-born children of illegal immigrants? What do you think of efforts to deny automatic citizenship to these children? How would denying them citizenship affect illegal immigration in the future? (Annenberg Classroom)

Why is “birthright citizenship” a part of the political dialogue in the run up to the 2016 Presidential election?

How is the right to a nationality guaranteed in constitutions? How is the issue of birthright citizenship related to overall immigration policy in the United States? Does the refugee crisis in Europe tell us anything about birthright citizenship?

THE EXTRASPre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading

“Andrew Fiala on Ethics: Good citizenship takes commitment” (The Fresno Bee) “Trump on Birthright Citizenship” (FactCheck.org) “Could Birthright Citizenship Be Undone?” (The Atlantic) “3 Things You Should Know About Birthright Citizenship” (NPR) “What do other countries’ constitutions say about birthright citizenship?” (Constitution Daily)

Lesson Plans

“Citizenship and the 14 th Amendment: Does it Need Revision?” (HS) (Project Tahoe) “Putting the 14 th Amendment to the Test” (Constitution Center) “Should the U.S. end birthright citizenship?” (Upfront)

What’s the Connection? Constitutional

“14 th Amendment” (kids.law.com) “Ignore Trump – the issue of birthright citizenship has been settled” (opinion) (Los Angeles Times)

Students “The 14 th Amendment and Birthright Citizenship” (podcast) (Constitution Center)

Oregon State Social Science Standards8.14. Explain the rights and responsibilities of citizens.8.18. Examine and analyze important US documents, including (but not limited to) the Constitution, Bill of Rights, 13th-15th Amendments. 8.19. Examine important Supreme Court decisions prior to 1880 and the impact of the decisions on government practices, personal liberties, and property rights. 8.20. Analyze the changing definition of citizenship and the expansion of rights. 8.21. Analyze important political and ethical values such as freedom, democracy, equality, and justice embodied in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.8.26. Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective. HS.24. Analyze and critique the impact of constitutional amendments. HS.32. Examine and evaluate documents and decisions related to the Constitution and Supreme Court decisions (e.g., Federalist Papers, Constitution, Marbury v. Madison, Bill of Rights, Constitutional amendments, Declaration of Independence).HS.33. Explain the role of government in various current events.HS.35. Examine the pluralistic realities of society (e.g., race, poverty, gender, and age), recognizing issues of equity, and evaluating need for change. HS.59. Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed to be a critical consumer of information.HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon form varied or opposing perspectives or points of view.

CCSS Anchor Standards

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.4. Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words. 8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.

We the People Lesson ConnectionsMiddle School, Level 2

Unit 6, Lesson 29: What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?High School, Level 3

Unit 3, Lesson 17: How did the Civil War test and transform the American Constitutional system?

Unit 6, Lesson 33: What does it mean to be a citizen?