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.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Virginia Constitution: 29 June 1776
The complete original text of the revolutionary state constitution of Virginia adopted in June 1776.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Massachusetts Constitution: 2 March 1780
The complete, original text of the Massachusetts State Constitution as adopted in March, 1780.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University: American Revolution: Revolution and State Constitution Making
A full-length essay on the formation of new state constitutions by the 13 newly independent states.
The White House
The White House: Our Government
Overviews of the major elements of U.S. government, compiled and published by the White House: three branches of the federal government (executive, legislative, judicial), the Constitution, federal agencies and commissions, elections and...
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Constitution of the United States
Find background information on the Constitution of the United States of America, and learn the three basic principles upon which the Constitution was written. Additional content includes a look at the text of the Constitution, the events...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: The Defense of Marriage Act
A lesson plan addressing what happens when Congress passes a law or an act, but the law is unconstitutional.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Enlightenment Ideas and the Founding Fathers
A tutorial that looks at the ideas from the Enlightenment that influenced the Founding Fathers, particularly those of John Locke and Montesquieu. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: The Federal Budget and the Constitution
What responsibilities belong to the U.S. President and the Congressional houses when it comes to establishing the federal budget? Take a look at these resources and incorporate this lesson into classroom learning.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution
The University of Chicago provides thousands of primary source documents concerning the diverse contents of the Constitution. Documents underlying the proposed Constitution, as well as documents of the time debating the proposed...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Themepark: Liberty: Three Branches of Government
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around the three branches of government. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
iCivics
I Civics: Constitutional Principles
The Founding Fathers created a government based on a set of fundamental principles carefully designed to guarantee liberty. This lesson lets students look at the Constitution from the perspective of its foundational principles and make...
Other
University of Alabama: Government
Overview in note form on social and political philosophy comparing Plato, Locke, and Hobbes. Scroll to "natural rights" which the author discusses in context for understanding the political and social philosophies of these political...
Ohio Test Prep
Ohio Test Prep: Module 3: Government
Learning module on American Government prepares students to take the Ohio state tests in Social Studies on topics including Laws, U.S. Constitution, Rights and Responsibilities, Framework of Government, and Separation of Powers. Includes...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Malcolm X Amd the Nation of Islam
A brief biography of a leader for black power, Malcolm X. Read about his early life and conversion to the Nation of Islam. Find out what his goals were for blacks in America, and see how the means to the end was different from Martin...
Other
Illinois State U.: Punctuation Made Simple Semicolon
What purpose does a semicolon serve in punctuation? Explore this website to learn more about this small but powerful grammar tool.
Digital History
Digital History: The Age of Constitution Writing [Pdf]
See how colonial and state constitutions differed and how the idea of a social contract between a government and its citizens is reflected in the state constitutions. The second half of this site gives an abbreviated text of the Articles...
Digital History
Digital History: The New Deal in Decline
The Supreme Court, in 1935 and 1936, found unconstitutional several programs that were the backbone of the New Deal. See how President Roosevelt tried to deal with these setbacks, and the results both for him personally and for the law.
Digital History
Digital History: u.s. Constitution and Organization of the National Government
Read about the structure of the U.S. Constitution and the thoughts of the framers behind the formation of each branch.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Branches of Government
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present US laws to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief history of the branches of Government. Links to related sites are available.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat
By 1788 eleven states ratified the Constitution, more than enough to put it into effect as the document establishing rules for the nation. Read about the goals of the Federalists in estabilishing a national government and find out how...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: After the Fact: Virginia, New Yok, and "The Federalist Papers"
Read about the necessity for Virginia and New York to support the ratification of the Constitution. See what influenced the vote in Virginia and how the legislature of New York was finally convinced.
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Founders Quotes
Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood. -...
Cato Institute
Buying Justice: Plaintiffs' Lawyers Reap Huge Dividends
This writer discusses the buying of justices' impartiality by trial lawyers and calls for tort reform.