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Vermont: Official State Homepage
Here you can learn the most current information about Vermont's state government. Includes links to homepages of federal, judicial, and executive branches. Also includes extensive information about tourism and recreational activities....
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum: Checks and Balances
Descriptions of the separate powers and functions of the three branches of the federal government. Site explains how the powers of one branch check and balance those of another.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Relationship of State and National Legal Systems
This lengthy essay describes the balance between state and federal judiciary courts and touches on independence, integration, power limits and immunities.
PBS
Pbs: How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens (Lesson Plan)
Objectives for this lesson include describing the structure and function of the Supreme Court, looking at important decisions, and discussing recent rulings and issues.
US National Archives
Docs Teach: Checks and Balances in Action
In this activity, students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to see examples of 'checks and balances' between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in action. Students will then match the...
US National Archives
Docs Teach: Separation of Powers or Shared Powers
In this activity, students will analyze documents that illustrate the relationship between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Using the scale in Weighing the Evidence, students will decide whether the United States...
Other
Gobierno Del Estado De Zacatecas
Official site of the state government of Zacatecas, Mexico. It covers the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, and offers news and information about the state and the government.
National Cable Satellite Corporation
C Span Classroom: Free Resources for Teaching Civics and u.s. Government
This is a site filled with current events that make connections to the relevant historical topics. There are six clickable topics, the videos of which are updated weekly. RealPlayer is needed and registration is required to stream or...
iCivics
I Civics: Our Courts: Constitution Day Lesson: Checks and Balances [Pdf]
Students learn the roles and responsibilities of each branch of government and where the checks and balances are located in this role-playing lesson. Requires Adobe Reader.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Federal Judiciary of the United States
This Wikipedia entry on the Federal government of the United States gives detailed information on each aspect of the judiciary branch.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Branches of Government
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains the 3 branches of government-- legislative, judicial and executive and helps students understand the 3 levels of government-- national, state and local.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Branches of Us Government
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains the 3 branches of US government-- Executive, Judicial and Legislative-- and includes some questions for assessment.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Government Vocabulary
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews important vocabulary regarding the three branches of the United States government.
Other
Understanding the Federal Courts
A ten part publication which describes the federal court system, its structure and organization, what types of cases they hear and much more. You can also download a PDF version of the document.
Library of Congress
Loc: George Washington to the United States Senate, 1789
A summary of Washington's task to appoint Supreme Court and other federal judicial officials, appointments which he based on relevant experience, their support for the constitution, and on where they lived. Includes images of a...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Debate and Compromise
The 18th-century statesmen who met in Philadelphia were adherents of Montesquieu's concept of the balance of power in politics. This principle was supported by colonial experience and strengthened by the writings of John Locke, with...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: The Constitution: Fixed or Flexible?
This unit explores the timeless qualities of The U.S. Constitution, the opportunities to amend it, and how it is a pillar of the American identity, through these activities, videos, and outside resources.
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Togo: Government
A graphic listing the governmental offices, officials, and information about the political parties. Information is from the CIA World Fact Book.
Read Works
Read Works: Brazil Today: Brazil's Constitution
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Constitution of Brazil. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: A Federalist Stronghold: John Marshall's Supreme Court
John Marshall was the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but his decisions, especially in Marbury v Madison, set the influence of the Court for the next many decades. Read about Marshall's decisions and why they were so important.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: A New Nation
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the 3 main branches of government and its system of checks and balances. Web links and 3tudent assessment items are included.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: So You Want to Be President
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the three branches of government and the qualifications to become President of the United States. Student assessment items are included.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: United States Constitution: Article Ii
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...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Federal Court System
Discussion of the structure, purpose, powers and Constitutional safeguards of the Federal Court System.