US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: Branches of Government
Beginning page of a Learning Adventure examines what parts of the Constitution give the branches of the Federal Government their specific powers. Those three parts are Article I, Article II, and Article III.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Annotation 1: Sixteenth Amendment
This article provides the background of the 16th Amendment, which established a federal income tax.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Article Ii: The President as a Law Enforcer
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."
iCivics
I Civics: Anatomy of the Constitution
This instructional activity gives an article-by-article overview of the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution. Students learn about the duties and powers of the three branches, the amendment process, and the role of the...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Constitution as Supreme Law
Overview of the history and structure of the U.S. Constitution as the "supreme law" of the land of which state and federal laws may not conflict and can only be changed by the American people.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Oil and National Security
Lesson and activity in which students critique U.S. energy policy and its relationship to national security, then evaluate energy alternatives. Lesson includes article with background information, questions for discussion and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The War in Afghanistan: What Should American Policy Be? [Pdf]
Article on American policy and the war in Afghanistan in which students read background history and assert an informed opinion about what they think the U.S. role in Afghanistan should be. Small group work and questions for writing and...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Cold War: How Did It Start? How Did It End? [Pdf]
Article discussing 45 years of the Cold War between Russia and the U.S. Questions for discussion and small group activity.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: The European Union: Toward a "United States of Europe"?
Learning activity on the economic and political unification of Europe. Article outlines the history and reasons for a European Union. Includes questions for discussion followed by small group activity asking students to evaluate the idea...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: The Annenberg Guide to the United States Constitution
The Annenberg guide to the United States Constitution: what It says, what It means. RI.11-12.8 seminal U.S. texts
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Separation of Powers
When do the actions of one branch of the federal government unconstitutionally intrude upon the powers of another branch? This article surveys the history of this question in historic Supreme Court cases.
Read Works
Read Works: A Constitution for Kids
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a children's book that translates the Constitution for kids. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Articles of Confederation, 1781
Gives a nice history of the Articles and also a summary of what they were and the problems that developed with their adoption. Includes links to the actual document.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Us Government for Kids: Constitution
Read about the history of the United States Constitution, then try the multiple-choice quiz. Includes an audio narration of the text and a link to a biography of James Madison, as well as links to other resources.
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Comparing Constitutions: Florida vs. the u.s.
The US Constitution and the Constitution of Florida are compared in this tutorial and how each incorporates the system of federalism. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Article I: Congressional Qualifications
This site provides text of Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution. Section 2 of the article deals specifically with the qualifications needed to be a representative of the U.S. Congress. This site provides text as its worded in the...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Drafting the Constitution
Essay covers from the Articles of Confederation and the problems of disunity of the new states after the Revolutionary War, internally as well as externally, to the Constitutional Convention, an attempt to address the Articles' problems....
iCivics
I Civics: Federalists & Anti Federalists
Look at the debate and eventual compromise, between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists that occurred around the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Article I: Habeas Corpus Suspension
This resource discusses Article I of the U.S. Constitution and the suspension of Habeas Corpus during the Civil War. The links throughout the text lead to the footnotes at the bottom of the page.
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Core Documents of u.s.democracy
Direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society, a core group of current and historical Government publications.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Article Iii: Annotations
This resource discusses both the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the appellate jurisdiction of the lower federal courts. There are hypertext links to related materials.
University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: James Madison
The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia provides an extensive biography on the life of James Madison. Provides information about his life before and after the presidency as well as his policies on foreign and domestic...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Creating the Us Constitution
A collection which uses primary sources to explore the creation of the US Constitution.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation
Using primary texts and prior study of Colonial America and the Revolution, students examine "what type of government would best represent the ideals of the American Revolution." Worksheets, discussions, and role-playing within this...