Social Studies; Grades 9-12. One hour
What does the United States Constitution tell us about the defining political issues of our day? How do we interpret the document to find those answers? This documentary examines the meaning of the Constitution through the lens of several different political persuasions, and it investigates how differing views of the document impact today's political debates. In order to illustrate the impact of Constitutional interpretation on the real world, "Intent" focuses on four cases studies. From medical marijuana, to warrantless wiretapping, to gun control laws, to "eminent domain" land seizures, the documentary examines Constitutional tensions between individual liberty, and government authority.