US Department of State
Info Usa: Foreign Trade and Global Economic Policies
U.S. foreign trade and global economic policies have changed direction dramatically during the more than two centuries that the United States has been a country. In the early days of the nation's history, government and business mostly...
Ducksters
Ducksters: Us Government for Kids: Judicial Branch the Supreme Court
Kids learn about the Judicial Branch of the United States Government. Judges and the Supreme Court.
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.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Understanding the President's Job
What does the President do? Understanding how our democracy works includes understanding how the Executive branch of our government works. Teachers can use this lesson plan to explore with students the job of the President. Academic...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Virginia Plan (1787)
Read the complete text of the Virginia Plan that proposed a strong central government consisting of three branches. You can also view images of the original drafts.
Oregon Secretary of State
Oregon State Archives: The Oregon Blue Book
The Oregon Blue Book, the official state directory and fact book, provides a wealth of information about Oregon. "FACTS," contains almanac references, economy information, scenic images, capital city information, and state buildings;...
Other
United States Postal Service
As an independent agency of the government, the United States Postal Service homepage offers information on zip codes, address change, stamps, online billing, and variety of other topics.
PBS
Structure of Congress and the Legislative Process Lesson
This instructional activity explores the structure of Congress and the legislative process. There is an introduction, a research activity, an assessment, and a role play activity.
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 Department of Commerce
Us Department of Commerce: Home Page
Homepage for the US Department of Commerce. This page contains many links and current information. Read the top stories on the home page or visit the newsroom for more information. You can also browse the "jobs" link.
Choices Program, Brown University
Choices: Teaching With the News: Surveying State of the Union Addresses
Learning module with multi-media resources helps students understand the constitutional basis and history of the State of the Union Address, identifying important historic themes and significant topics. Includes video, graphic...
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...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress Link: Lesson Plans
The Dirksen Congressional Center provides abundant lesson plans on all aspects of the US Congress and the US Constitution. All lessons contain time frames, objectives, and links to material, and are built around Bloom's taxonomy.
Other
A Republic, if You Can Keep It
An essay by U.S. Congressional Representative Ron Paul of Texas on the state of the American republic delivered at the dawn of the twenty-first century. He argues for the strong separation of powers among the three branches of government...
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Egypt: Economy
Find out what the Egyptian government is doing to jump-start its economy. Although based on agriculture, see how the economy is branching out into other sectors to provide jobs for millions of Egyptians. Information is from the U.S....
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The United States Capitol Building
A comprehensive site that provides three lesson plans which explain what takes place in the U.S. Capitol Building. This thorough site describes the function of the Capitol Building and includes many photos of both the building itself and...
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...
Other
Dot: Office of the Historian
Historical information on the U.S. Department of Transportation can be found here. Included: a history of the department, biographies and dates of service of the Secretaries of Transportation, and a chronology of important events.
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...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Extra! Extra! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!
This is a project to conclude the study of the Judicial Branch of our government. The students, working in pairs, will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case to research in a computer lab setting. They will then construct a one-page...
US Senate
Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control
The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control provides information on drug policy actions by the caucus and the issues that are highlighted by the members of the Caucus.
Digital History
Digital History: Republicanism
The framers of the Constitution had a great distaste for the monarchial society of Great Britain. See how this was reflected in the checks and balances they wrote into the Constitution in an effort to create a working republic.
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Anti Railroad Propaganda Poster
From the National Archives and Records Administration site, this lesson, focusing on a poster circulated in Philadelphia in 1839 to discourage the coming of the railroad, relates to the struggle to define the powers of the national and...
Library of Congress
Loc: Constitution Day Resources
A selection of online resources from THOMAS that have to do with the US Constitution.