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We the People: 270 out of 538
Students engage in a instructional activity that helps them better explain the quadrennial ritual surrounding the election of a president in the United States of America.
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American Focus on World Constitutions
Ninth graders describe essential components of a constitution and cite cultural factors affecting international law-making.
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The Origins of American Government
Young scholars create an advertising campaign to persuade the Founding Fathers to adopt a particular political philosophy. Working in groups, they conduct research about a certain political philosophy. Students create a pitch to be...
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Presidential Gallery
Students identify the three branches of the federal government and their role in our government. They identify important events and accomplishments in the life of one president of the United States. Students identify the major national...
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School Bill of Rights
Students study the Bill of Rights. As a class, they create a "School Bill of Rights," with amendments. Students discuss the difference between rights and responsibilities and examine Supreme Court decisions dealing with the first ten...
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Reviewing the Election Process by NOW Classroom for PBS
Students take a closer look at presidential elections. In this election process lesson, students discuss the roles of the primary, caucus, polls, Electoral College, delegates, and lobbyists in the process. Students then access the listed...
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Understanding the United States Constitution
Students discuss the United States Preamble and Constitution. In this United States government lesson plan, students discuss the differences between rights and privileges and construct a chart that lists some of our rights as citizens....
Judicial Learning Center
About Federal Judges
Not just anybody can do the job of a federal judge, but according to the United States Constitution just about anybody can be appointed. The lesson outlines the process and requirements for becoming a federal judge, focusing on the...
Administrative Office of the US Courts
Texas v. Johnson
Which right does the Constitution weigh more heavily: the sanctity of the American flag as a symbol of national unity, or the right to burn the flag in protest? The 1989 Supreme Court case of Texas v. Johnson explores a state's right to...
Curated OER
Compare/Contrast: The United States and Alaska Constitutions
Students compare and contrast the United States and Alaska Constitution. After reading each preamble, they identify the reasons for each constitution to be drafted and discuss what they reveal about citizens responsiblity in government....
C-SPAN
Middle School Checks and Balances
Seven video clips reveal how the checks and balances built into the constitutional framework of the United states' government are designed to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful. After watching each clip, groups identify the...
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Lesson 4: The Judiciary: A Brief Introduction to the Courts System
Focusing on the judicial branch of government, the fourth lesson in this series explores the structure of the US courts system. Beginning with an engaging activity based on the short story The Lady or the Tiger, students go on to examine...
iCivics
For The President, All In A Day's Work
How does the president of the United States get the authority to exercise his/her duties? What responsibilities and tasks go into a hard day's work for the president? Here is a lesson plan that includes several instructional materials...
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Towards Separation of Church and State in Gloucester
Explore New England government in the 1700's with your class. They will identify historical documents as primary or secondary sources, then read and discuss the significance of these documents as they relate to the "freedom of religion"...
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I Do Solemnly Swear: Presidential Inaugurations
Students read about the most recent presidential inauguration, and then use primary online resources to answer general and specific questions about U.S. presidential inaugurations.
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Campaign Posters 1788-1816
Seventh graders examine the first years of the U.S. under the U.S. Constitution. They identify the main themes of the Federalist and Republican parties, conduct research, and write a campaign speech and create a campaign poster.
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A More Perfect Union: Barack Obama's Race Speech at the National Constitution Center
Eleventh graders explore the process of perfecting the Union through changes made to the Constitution, and through the powers delegated to each branch of government. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders research various...
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Fractured Facts for Civics
In this fractured facts for civics worksheet, 9th graders correct 24 sentences by replacing certain phrases if they are incorrect, but not all need to be corrected, answers are included.
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Fugitive from Labor Cases: Henry Garnett (1850) and Moses Honner (1860)
Students engage in the comparison of cases which demonstrate the increasingly volatile political crisis in the 1850s arising over the issue of slavery and the necessity for the enactment of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S....
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Constitutional Crossword Puzzle
For this constitutional worksheet, students review, discuss and answer nine clues regarding the constitution and then place each answer in a crossword puzzle.
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Our National Documents
Learners consider the significance of selected American documents. In this civics lesson, students analyze excerpts of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
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The Law: Your Rights and Responsibilities
Students explore First Amendment rights and responsibilities.
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Bill of Rights and Lawmaking
Ninth graders consider how the Bill of Rights impacts the lawmaking process in the United States. In this Bill of Rights lesson, 9th graders discuss the amendments and their limitations. Students research the role of the Legislative...
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The Bill of Rights and Tracking in the U.S.
High schoolers review and analyze the Bill of Rights document and determine what rights were violated when certain individuals were tracked by the United States government. They briefly look at why it is easier to track alien residents...