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Lesson Plan
Other

Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
These lessons address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment. They intend to have explore how freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss just how far individual...
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Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Madison Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
Read online from James Madison's report of William Patterson's proposal of the New Jersey Plan at the Federal Convention, 1787. Link to related document: Articles of Confederation as related specifically to each proposal in the New...
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Website
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Rights of Citizens: The Bill of Rights (Grades 6 8)

For Students 6th - 8th
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present US laws to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief history of the Bill of Rights. Links to related sites are available.
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Website
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Gouverneur Morris

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan introducing or revisiting the role of Gouverneur Morris in the planning and writing of the United States Constitution.
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Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Great Compromise

For Teachers 7th
A learning module on the Great Compromise and the role it played in developing the US Constitution in 1787. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance...
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Primary
US Senate

United States Senate: Constitution of the United States

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of the Constitution can be read here. Each section is accompanied by an explanation of what it means in lay language.
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Website
National Constitution Center

National Constitution Center

For Students K - 1st
Official website of The National Constitution Center.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iv: National Supremacy

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a review of Clause 2, Article VI, "Supremacy of the Constitution, Laws and Treaties."
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iii: Judicial Power

For Students 9th - 10th
Annotations to Article III on the characteristics and attributes of judicial power as related to specific Supreme Court decisions. The author distinguishes between judicial power and jurisdiction.
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Primary
Other

Page by Page: Constitution of the u.s. Article One

For Students 9th - 10th
Article One of the Constitution of the United States of America presented by Page by Page Books.com
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Annotation 2: Fifth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explains the phrase "double jeopardy," including a look at its development through history.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Annotation 1: Fifteenth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource gives the text of the Fifteenth Amendment with annotations. The paragraph on literacy tests includes information on Alabama's amendment which was clearly aimed at African Americans.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Piracies, Felonies, and Offenses Against the Law

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explains Clause 10 of Article I of the U.S. Constitution beginning with the origins of "Piracies, Felonies, and Offenses Against the Law of Nations." Further historical background as considered by the Constitutional...
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Ii: The President as a Law Enforcer

For Students 9th - 10th
Read Section 3 of Article II which explains what the President's duties are as Law Enforcer. The Constitution does not state that the President shall execute the laws himself, but that he will ensure that laws are "faithfully executed."
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iii: Organizations of Court, Tenure, & Compensation

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource covers Article III, Section 1, which focuses on the judicial branch of the United States government.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iv: Development of the Modern Rule

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about Article IV of the United States Constitution.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iv: Doctrine of the Equality of States

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource discusses Clause 1, Section 3, in Article IV. It outlines the parameters put in place to ensure that as new states entered the union, power was equitably distributed among all.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Proposing a Constitutional Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention had to decide the means of amending the Constitution. Discusses Madison's proposal for empowering Congress to propose amendments, either on its own initiative or upon application by the...
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Vi: Oath of Office

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the words in the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, concerning the oath of office. Link to a Supreme Court case which tested the interpretation of this article, McCullock v. Maryland, to view the decisions of the Justices.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article I: Duties on Exports From States

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource explains Clause 5 of Article I of the U.S. Constitution by defining specific words and phrases contained within the clause. Also gives historical background to explain the purpose of the Clause.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Fourth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource not only provides a text of the amendment, but also extensive annotations to words and phrasing.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Article I

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete text of Article I, sections 1-10, of the U.S. Constitution, establishing the Legislative Branch of the Federal government.
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Website
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Eighth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource contains the text of the Eighth Amendment and legal annotations.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: United States Constitution: Article Ii

For Students 9th - 10th
Full text of Article II from the U.S. Constitution, as well as detailed annotations that explain the reasoning and subsequent impact of each clause and section of the Article. Content explores everything from the nature and scope of...