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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs News Hour: Your Safety and Security or Your Civil Liberties Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The object of this lesson is to take a look at the USA Patriot Act and the controversies around the Act. Does the Patriot Act defy our Civil Liberties? This lesson will explore that question and more.
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Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Supreme Court Gps Warrant Hearing

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigators must acquire a search warrant before intitiating a GPS search of a vehicle to track criminals, decided upon by justices, so as not to infringe on the rights of search and seizure stated in the Bill of Rights. This lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Affirmative Action and the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Spurred by a case in Texas where a student felt her rights were compromised when she was denied entrance into the University of Texas, this lesson plan addresses college admissions' processes in the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Internet Copyright and Piracy Bills

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A instructional activity focused on SOPA, Stop Online Privacy Act, which protects online businesses from counterfeiters and from folks using copyrighted materials without appropriate permissions.
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Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: The Defense of Marriage Act

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan addressing what happens when Congress passes a law or an act, but the law is unconstitutional.
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Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Fourth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information on the reference to Rochin v California, that is found in the annotations page to the 4th Amendment. Specifically, focusing on the section covering "Property subject to seizure".
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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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Lesson Plan
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Property Rights and the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A question over a piece of property owned by one, yet deemed protected by the EPA prompted a court case in search of due process and protection of property rights. Find out more about the case and the process through this lesson plan.
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Website
United Nations

United Nations: Human Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the United Nations site devoted to the topic of human rights. The visitor will find links to various declarations, treaties, and news releases.
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Article
Other

James Grimmerlmann: Copyright, Technology, and Access to the Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Articles on technology and access to the law. The author discusses some innovative features of the Code from a legal standpoint, such as the number index system and the stele used to inscribe the laws.
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Activity
Other

Streetlaw: Rights in the Community

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides several links and introductory information on the Constitution, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, expression in special places, freedom of religion, due process, the right to privacy, discrimination, and...
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Handout
Other

Aclu: Sybil Liberty About Your Right to Equality in Education

For Students 9th - 10th
At this resource, you can find out what rights the US Constitution guarantees you in regards to obtaining equal educational opportunities.
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Civil Liberties Recap: You Be the Judge

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
How well can you decide the balance of civil liberties? Review three case summaries as well as the laws and facts about each case and arguments, and then make a ruling.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Ii: Impeachment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides detailed information about Article II of the Constitution, which focuses on impeachment.
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Website
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Regulation of Fighting Words and Hate Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the constitutional conflict regarding the question of whether the first amendment limits the government's ability to regulate fighting words or hateful speech? This source contains background information and links to historical...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

For Students 9th - 10th
Provided here are the principles and sources of France's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a basic charter of human liberty that later led to the French Revolution and the French Constitution.
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Primary
University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota: Rochin v. California (1952)

For Students 9th - 10th
This page provides the background of the case and the Supreme Court's decision.
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Fifth Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides both the text of the amendment and annotations as explanation of various words and phrases.
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Website
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: The Trial of Susan B. Anthony

For Students 9th - 10th
Arrested for "illegal voting", suffragist Susan B. Anthony was put on trial, which is chronicled here using historical documents, testimony, and primary source material.