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.
Virtual Salt
Virtual Salt: Introduction to Critical Thinking
An introduction to the concept of Critical Thinking examines the true definition and gives examples where it can be used as a constructive force.
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...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Debating Democracy
By the end of this section of a chapter on "Creating Republican Governments," students will be able to explain the development of state constitutions, describe the features of the Articles of Confederation, and analyze the causes and...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Partisan Politics
By reading this section of a chapter on "The New Republic", students will be able to identify key examples of partisan wrangling between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, describe how foreign relations affected American...
Library of Congress
Loc: congress.gov: The Legislative Process: Senate Floor
Watch this video on the unique rules and procedures governing floor debate and amending in the Senate. A transcript is provided, along with a chart of the legislative process. [4:18]
US House of Representatives
History, Art, and Archives: Us House of Representatives: Mapping Congress
Use this interactive map to track the prevalence of minorities in Congress from the beginning to the present. Choose from a group of members to see how many were in Congress from each state during a particular congressional term. Click...
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...
Other
U.s. House of Representatives: The Legislative Process
Learn about the House of Representatives and how it carries out its responsibilities and duties according to the U.S. Constitution.
US House of Representatives
History, Art, and Archives: Oral History of the House of Representatives
Through interviews with House officers, aides, committee staff, former Representatives, and others, a rich heritage has been preserved. Audio, video, and transcripts provide a look into legislative processes and procedures, personal and...
University of California
Uc Irvine: Distinguishing Between Primary & Secondary Sources
This site has an online quiz to test your knowledge of primary and secondary sources.
International Reading Association
Reading Online: Classroom Strategies for Exploring Authenticity in the Media
Four innovative classroom activities that actively engage students in analyzing and criticizing media messages. SL.11-12.2 Eval&Integrate sources
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Nonfiction and Reseach: "Choosing Nonfiction Sources" [Pdf]
This is the 20-page PDF "Choosing Nonfiction Sources." It provides informatation about various types of nonfiction: primary and secondary sources, reference works, databases, newspapers and periodicals, and nonfiction books; it also...
University of California
Uc Berkeley Library: Critical Evaluation of Resources
Questions to ask yourself when determining if a source is reliable. Discusses difference between primary and secondary source. List of reference sources and links to other sites that teach you how to evaluate sources....
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Determining Validity and Reliability of Sources
This lesson will help students decide which sources are valid and reliable for supporting a thesis. It discusses how to evaluate books, articles, websites, and more.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analysis of Relative Values of Specific Data, Facts, and Ideas
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, students can practice finding specific types of sources and learn the questions to ask when evaluating information for a persuasive essay.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Analyze Shifts in Perspective in Informational & Persuasive Text
[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, students will read informational texts and identify varying perspectives in different arguments on the same topic. You will also analyze the reasoning and the...
PBS
Pbs: Empire of the Air: Power and Impact of Radio
Learners will listen to historic news events as broadcast on radio, view current news coverage on television, and compare and contrast how those events were reported on both media by developing an essay which addresses the question "Is...
Indiana University
Center on Congress: Learn About Congress
Learn about the role of the US Congress, how it works, its history, and the principles behind its creation and operation. Wonderful set of resources including FAQs, short articles and video clips, "interactive learning modules" (i.e., a...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Judicial Branch: The Power of the Federal Courts
An explanation of the power the federal courts hold in the American judicial branch of government. Find a quiz to test understanding.
Other
History of Alternative Journalism in 20th Century
This site contains a timeline of the history of alternative journalism beginning in 1900. Includes description & brief discusses of various alternative publications.