The House of Representatives has a lot of responsibility  in the United States government. But how did it all begin, and why is it the way it is now? A comprehensive instructional activity answers all of these questions about the US...

A skinny-dipping president? John Quincy Adams was a bible reader by morning and a skinny-dipper by late morning, apparently. His strong beliefs and lack of persuasive power ultimately ended his time in presidency, but he did go on to...

Apportionment is a big word for young pupils. Use a helpful cartoon video and worksheet with data set to help them understand how the census fuels representative democracy. After examining how the census determines the number of seats a...

One person, one voice ... right? Using a simulation where uneven groups are given the same voice, scholars discover why fair apportionment based on an accurate census is important. Once finished, they use actual data to consider what...

What's it like to be a senator or member of the House of Representatives? Using a video game simulation, learners discover what it is like to craft and pass legislation from its idea through conference committee. Pop ups and annotation...

Find out the differences between presidential and midterm elections with an informative resource. Pupils discuss the importance of midterms to the presidency and how midterms affect the balance of government branches. They also fill out...

"I'm just a bill, I'm only a bill, and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill." - Schoolhouse Rock. Scholars analyze how a bill becomes a law in the United States government and political arena. They view a short video clip, the ninth lesson...

Other than talking, what is the role of the speaker of the House of Representatives? Learners research, via a short video clip, the leadership positions in the United States government and politics. They use their knowledge to discuss...

Set down the basics of the three branches of government with the reading passage included here. After reading, class members answer five questions related to the passage.

A fun and interesting teacher describes the three branches of the US government. His lecture style and ability to explain with good examples could be a really big help to older students needing a tutorial or extra support in...

Students study the concept of legislation as it relates to passing a bill in the House of Representatives. For this legislation: passing a bill in the house of representative lesson plan, students identify why and how bills are...

Although just a quick review of general information learned about the Constitution and U.S. government, this presentation could be used as a fun activity before the beginning of a class lesson, or as an independent experience. The...

Have learners try their hands at an online quiz. There are 32 multiple choice questions all related to the three branches of the US government. Questions regarding US economics are also included. 

Although this legislative process lesson is designed to accompany a specific text, it is valuable independently. Young learners participate in a picture walk (worksheet included) through My Senator and Me: A Dog's-Eye View of Washington,...

This straightforward fill-in-the-blank activity could be used for a variety of purposes. Young historians are given 10 sentences about the branches of government; they fill in the blanks with terminology that is related to the United...

Explore check and balances within the branches of government with this worksheet. Learners explore the functions of each branch and answer questions concerning how a bill becomes law and about the system that the Founding Fathers...

Looking for a quick assessment to give to your class about the branches of government in the United States? This is a multiple choice activity that could be used as a quiz. There are 9 questions, some of which are a bit dated and should...

This simple worksheet could accompany a text (as it indicates a chapter and section), but could also be given as a guide to independent research. Basic concepts of Congress are prompted through matching and multiple choice. This could be...

Who was Joseph McCarthy and why is his name synonymous with witch hunts? What were the factors that permitted the political repression of the 1950s to flourish? Could the same thing happen today? An intriguing video traces the rise and...

Young scholars take a closer look at representative government. In this House of Representatives instructional activity, students discuss their local representative in Congress and research his or her responsibilities. Young scholars...

In this U.S. Constitution worksheet, students respond to 63 short answer questions about Articles I-VII of the American plan for government.

Students explore the responsibilities of the House of Representatives and the Senate. In this Legislative Branch lesson plan, students define vocabulary regarding the branch's responsibilities, take notes on a video regarding the branch,...

New ReviewSeven steps are required for a bill to become a United States law. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) is used as a model for the process of how a bill becomes a law.  Class members work independently through a Google...