iCivics
I Civics: Three Branches
A web quest looking at how a law gets passed as it moves through the three branches of the United States government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Each page has a question to answer, and a link to a site with information specific...
iCivics
I Civics: Games: Lawcraft
Interactive game that takes the student through the law-making process. Pick a member of Congress and an issue, then see what is necessary to get the bill passed and made into law.
Beacon Learning Center
Beacon Learning Center: If You've Seen One Source, You've Seen Them All. Right?
This is a tutorial teaching the difference between primary and secondary research sources. It provides specific examples and asks students to answer questions along the way. Java is required.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Keys to Understanding the Constitution
Article for students will help them to understand the important points of the Constitution. Discussion on the preamble, amendments, amendment process, voting, laws and the powers and limitations of government.
US National Archives
National Archives: What Congress Does and Why It Matters
Learners will analyze primary sources related to Congress to learn the specific powers of the Legislative Branch. Included is a chart to download and print, worksheets, materials, and an answer key. Primary sources to be examined are...
Other
Project Vote Smart: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Project Vote Smart provides a detailed guide to the process of making a bill become a law. Content also includes links for more explanation on certain topics.
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Dirksen Center: A Bill Becomes a Law
Learning module on how a bill becomes a law offers students an alternative and in-depth approach to learning about the legislative process through text, graphics, and video .
US House of Representatives
U.s. Capitol: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Learn about the legislative process in the United States through this interactive tutorial, which demonstrates to students how a bill becomes a law.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Legislative Branch
Find out about the duties of the legislative branch of government. Check out Ben's Guide!
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: One Page Nonfiction Readings: Grade 6
This site contains 17 nonfiction articles that are appropriate for students with a 6th grade reading level, as measured by the Fry Formula. Questions for each passage are provided. Graphic organizers are available for these copyrighted...
US House of Representatives
Kids in the House: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Interactive website in which students build a bill and journey through the process of how a bill becomes law. With links to significant material, glossary, and resources for teachers.
Library of Congress
Loc: congress.gov: Contrasting Procedures of the Senate and House
Clearly contrasts the two houses in the US Legislative Branch. It details the commonalities in the making of a law.
Library of Congress
Loc: How Our Laws Are Made
This page provides links to every step in the legislative process, from sources of legislation through publication.
Library of Congress
Loc: The u.s. Congress: Resources a to Z
Start your research of the U.S. Congress here! Superb links to any information you may need on history, current profile of Congress, and many other sites.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Extra! Extra! What's the Big Idea?!
Get the feel of running a newspaper by selecting articles and pictures. If you are interested in checking out real newspapers, there is a clickable list of online newspapers for younger readers.
Library of Congress
Loc: History Firsthand: Primary Source Research
History Firsthand has been designed to provide elementary children with experiences which enable them to begin understanding primary sources. Students move from personal artifacts to the vast American Memory collections and learn how...
Other
Newsela
[Free Registration/Login Required] Newsela offers new current events articles daily in areas ranging from the arts to war and peace. Each article is available at five different reading levels; grade level and word count are displayed for...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: How Are Laws Made?
A tutorial that explains the process that must be followed in order for a new law to be made. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Georgetown University
Legal Research Guides: Secondary Sources Research Guide
This tutorial discusses how to perform legal research in a library--from locating relevant cases, statutes, and regulation to using secondary sources that include Periodical Indexes, Treatises, Legal Encyclopedias, and Annotated Law...
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: The Politics of the Bill of Rights: Part Iii
Investigate what the politics were leading to the creation of the Bill of Rights. Identify how the debates in the first congress led to the stages of approval and ultimately the adoption of the ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
US Senate
U.s. Senate: Oath of Office
At the start of each new Congress, certain members of Congress perform the constitutional rite of take the Oath of Office. Here is the history of this ritual.
US Senate
The United States Senate
The official site of the United States Senate. Offers many resources for study of current and historical legislation. Also provides forms to contact your senator.
US Senate
Explore the Senate's Past
Covers the workings of the Senate and how it evolved, and includes exhibits of historical photos and paintings. The Oral History section has interviews with people who worked in the Senate, where they discuss their careers and the...
Other
History of the Federal Judiciary
Incredibly in-depth site regarding the history of the federal judiciary. Well organized, easy to navigate, and crisply arranged, this site can be used for many lessons. The accuracy of the information is very reliable since its author...