Curated OER
The Economics of Voting
Students examine the voting behavior of people during a presidential election to determine costs and the benefits of voting and how this behavior is influenced by incentives.
Curated OER
The Citizen in de Tocqueville's America
Students explore democratic values. In this government systems lesson plan, students listen to their instructor lecture on Democracy in America by de Tocqueville. Students respond to discussion questions connected to the lecture.
PBS
Connecting Post-Civil War Mob Violence and the Capitol Hill Riot
Anti-democratic violence is not new in the United States. Learners watch videos and then compare and contrast the 1873 Colfax and the 1898 Wilmington massacres. They then watch a video about the Capitol Hill insurrection of 2021 and...
Curated OER
The Bills of Rights: Cutting It down to Size
Eighth graders explore democratic values. In this U. S. Constitution lesson plan, 8th graders read the Bill of Rights and consider the significance of the amendments. Students design a governmental time capsule that includes their own...
Curated OER
Democracy in Action?
Students compare and contrast democratic election processes. In this 200 presidential election lesson plan, students visit websites that allow them to compare federal American elections to British elections. Students hold their own...
Curated OER
Core Democratic Values of American Constitutional Democracy
Students describe the ideas found in the core democratic values. In groups, they design and create a brochure explaining how the values relate to other ideas that Americans accept as a nation. They share what they know with with...
Curated OER
Strengthening Democracy In Latin America
Students consider how to strengthen democratic principles in Latin America. In this government systems lesson, students explore the challenges to democratic forms of government in Latin America as they examine primary sources. Students...
Curated OER
African Americans and the Democratic Party
Young scholars identify factors that caused African Americans to shift party loyalty from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party. They review ways in which African Americans benefited from New Deal programs. Students analyze...
Curated OER
Reflecting on the Far Right
Students examine the London assembly election of 2008. In this political parties lesson, students research the platform of the British National Party. Students visit suggested websites to determine the party's core beliefs.
Curated OER
Political Systems
In this political systems worksheet, students discuss the type of society they would prefer, a class-less one regulated by democracy or a society with all levels of income and wealth, regulated by free market.
Curated OER
Electoral Systems
Students examine electoral systems and reach conclusions and judgements about the extent to which these requirements are met. The Canadian electoral system be examined as one other electoral system.
Brown University
Considering the Role of Values in Public Policy
Strong opinions come from deeply held values. Young citizens explore the values that are most important to them in a class discussion and activity. As they prioritize a list of values cards that include freedom, justice, and democracy,...
Brown University
The Candidates and Their Values: Election 2016
Voting for the next president of the United States is about finding the candidate who most closely aligns with your own values and sense of democracy. High schoolers become acquainted with the candidates from the 2016 election with a...
National First Ladies' Library
Politics! Politics! The Emergence of Political Parties in the U.S.
High schoolers are split into six small groups which focus on one of six websites, that tell the story of the emergence of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties at the end of the 18th century. They compile a chronological list...
Curated OER
The Electoral Process
Students explore the U.S. political system by completing several worksheets. For this government election lesson, students define and describe the two main political parties in detail to one another. Students read a piece written by a...
Curated OER
Civil Service Reform: Senate Debates
Young scholars examine the 1883 Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act. They discuss the spoils system, answer discussion questions, read and analyze speeches, complete a worksheet summarizing their findings, and report their findings to the...
Curated OER
Dangerous Roads in Your Community
Learners interview police and city officials, find out what makes these places dangerous. Students develop a plan to get the city or county or state +++ whichever is in charge of these spots to make changes that would make them safer for...
Curated OER
Michigan Judicial System Conclusion
Young scholars identify the courts that make up Michigan's judicial system. They state the responsibilities of each court and diagram a flow chart of how a case moves to the Michigan Supreme Court. They participate in a quiz about the...
Curated OER
Alexander Hamilton and the Roots of Federalism
Explore the origin of political parties in the United States. Learners work in groups to read and analyze copies of the "Report on Manufactures" written by Alexander Hamilton. Then, they complete a worksheet comparing the Federalists to...
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Invasion of the Superdelegates
What are superdelegates? Use this political cartoon analysis handout to explore this informal term with your scholars. Background information gives brief context to help high schoolers examine the featured cartoon, and three talking...
Curated OER
Defined: The Different Types of Government
The world is a big place, so it only stands to reason that different forms of government exist. Democracy, autocracy, oligarch, monarch, and dictatorship are all defined. An extensive explanation of US government system is also included....
Curated OER
It's Your Right: A Civil Rights Brochure
Learners examine the US Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Supreme Court cases in order to broaden their understanding of the US Judicial System. They research a variety of textual and Internet resources to create a tri-fold brochure,...
Facing History and Ourselves
Laws and the National Community
When it comes to the law, is justice always served? Teach scholars about how law sometimes enables prejudice of entire groups of people with a unit on World War II that includes a warm-up activity, analysis of primary sources,...
Deliberating in a Democracy
Surveillance
Big Brother is always watching you! Scholars analyze the impact security cameras have on the legal system in a democracy. Primary documentation, case studies, and video clips investigate the use of video in prosecution and provide an...