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.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Principles of Government
Outline of the man principles of U.S. government under the constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Provisions for Amendment
Outline of the history and processes required for changing or amending the Constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Bill of Rights
Article on the history and purpose of the Bill of Rights which spelled out specific protections in the first 10 amendments of the Constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Vital Protection for Individual Liberties
Explanation of the constitutional amendments and process of amending as intentionally organized to increase protection of the civil liberties of U.S. citizens.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Federal System
Outline of the principles embedded in a Federal System of government attempting to balance states' rights with the need for a central government.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: To Establish Justice
Outline explaining the ideals and intentions for a newly formed nation as spelled out in the of the Declaration of Independence.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Purpose of the Bill of Rights
Text of the first ten amendments of the Constitution found in the Bill of Rights.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Debate About Slavery
Article outlines the issues of debate over slavery and the compromises made while writing the Constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: A New Kind of Federalism
Overview of the reasons and purposes of a Federalist government in which federal and state governments share concurrent powers as proposed and outlined in the Federalist Papers.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Checks and Balances
Overview of the principle of checks and balances proposed in the Federalist Papers.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Human Nature, Government and Individual Rights
Overview discussion of the views held by Madison and Hamilton that people, in general, need to have written into the law certain checks and balances to guard against abuse of power, protect individual rights and encompass a pluralistic...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Separation of Powers
Informative discussion of the ideas behind the Constitutional principle of Separation of Powers.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Federal Court System
Discussion of the structure, purpose, powers and Constitutional safeguards of the Federal Court System.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Supreme Court
Discussion overview illustrating the structure and powers of the Supreme Court as written in the U.S. Constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Courts of Appeals and District Courts
Overview of the structure and purpose of the Courts of Appeals and District Courts.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: State Government
Overview of the way state government is organized along with a discussion of the history and reasons for state government autonomy.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: City Government
Overivew of city government structure, organization and responsibilities.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: County Government
Overview on how county government is structured and how it functions in relation to city governments.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Town and Village Government
Overview of the function, responsibilites and structure of town and village government.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Democratic Process
Overview explaining some fundamental characteristics of the political processes of a representative democracy.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Responsibilities of Citizenship
Outline discusses the responsibilities and duties of citizenship that go along with the rights and freedoms expressed in the U.S. Constitution.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Requirements for Citizenship
Overview of requirements for citizenship in the United States and the naturalization process for becoming a U.S. citizen.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Political Parties
Brief overview of the political party system in the U.S. explaining the emergence and longevity of the Democratic and Republican Parties.