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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Executive Branch in the Lawmaking Process

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners examine Article I, Section 7, and Article II, Sections 2 and 3, of the U.S. Constitution, explain the president's role in the lawmaking process, and define the term veto.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 4 James Madison: Internal Improvements Balancing Act—Federal/State and Executive/Legislative

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Who has the power? The founding fathers asked the same question when the United States was formed. Learners explore issues that arose during Madison’s presidency that raised constitutional questions. Through discovery, discussion, and...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
US House of Representatives

Legislative Trends and Power Sharing Among Hispanic Americans in Congress, 1977–2012

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Bilingual education, voting rights, and Congressional redistricting come up often in the news. Explore these topics from another view—the perspectives of Hispanic members of Congress. Activities include an article with comprehension and...
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Lesson Plan
American Bar Association

What Is Separation of Powers?

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Who has the power? Scholars investigate the creation of the three branches of government in the United States Constitution. They analyze just why the framers created the branches the way they did.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Does Congress Work That Way?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover the powers of Congress. In this legislative branch lesson, students examine the legislative process as they analyze Article I of the U.S. Constitution. Learners consider the powers of Congress as they define the role of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legislative Branch

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze Article 1 of the Constitution. They respond to the Public Criticism E-Learning module.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charting the Three Branches of Government

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students review CongressLink on the internet and study the branches of government. They work in groups to create charts showing the structure and functions of the three branches of government as outlined in the first three articles to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Having the Last Word

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the influence of foreign languages in their everyday speech after reading an article from The New York Times on language legislation in Brazil. Students are divided into 4 groups in order to research languages spoken...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking From the Giving Tree

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the ways in which various American cities negotiate the protection of their "green infrastructure," gaining a broader understanding of proposed and enacted legislation as it relates to preserving and planting trees in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Pollution Politics

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine how a bill becomes a law in the US Congress. They investigate legislation about global warming. They determine the role of engineers as they educate Congress, the public and other government institutions about global...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Executive Branch in the Lawmaking Process

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students research the Executive Branches role in making a law. In this law making lesson plan, students study the history of the Constitution and see how much power the President has in making a bill into a law. Students then research on...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
C-SPAN

Supreme Court Justices Research and Resumes

For Teachers 6th - 12th
According to Article III, Section1 of the United States constitution, the only qualification one needs to be appointed to the Supreme Court is to demonstrate "good behavior." The president and Congress are given the power to determine...
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Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

The Constitution

For Students 6th - 12th
Supreme Court justices debate the meaning of the US Constitution, but we expect teachers to explain it to scholars with far less training and experience. A daunting task for sure, but it's not insurmountable with resources that simplify...
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Lesson Plan
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C-SPAN

How A Bill Becomes A Law

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Seven 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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Representation of the Common Citizen From Declaration of Independence to Present

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create working definition of common citizen, and investigate and discuss important sections of Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other Amendments. Students demonstrate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Under Control

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate and assess scientific issues for which government regulation has been or might be enacted. Using their research, students write letters to lawmakers supporting or contesting related legislative efforts.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can We Breathe Easier?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students list the exclusive and shared powers of the state and national governments. They state the specific role of the national and state governments in enforcing environmental legislation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Right to Remain Resilient

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine the Civil Rights Movements in the U.S., both current and historic. In small groups students investigate a specific civil rights group, create an illustrated timeline, noting key events, people, and state and federal laws.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Quest for Freedom

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the atrocities of slavery. They examine the issues raised by the legacy of slavery in Brazil by reading and discussing "Brazil's Former Slave Havens Slowly Pressing for Rights." They create a slave identity based on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just how broken is the Senate?

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the role of the Senate in the United States.  In this American Government lesson, 12th graders read various articles and answer questions to these articles.  Students write a letter to their Senator on a specific...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Panama Canal Treaties: How Treaties Are Ratified

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students gain an understanding of how the executive and legislative branches, influenced by popular opinion, work toward the ratification of a treaty. They examine the influences and impact of lobbying and special interests in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Formation and Function of the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze the role of the U.S. Supreme Court. They read a handout and Article III, section 1 of the Constitution, analyze and rate by relevance noteworthy Supreme Court cases, and write how they decided each rating.
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Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

The Power of Judicial Review

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Marbury v. Madison is arguably the most important landmark case in the history of the Supreme Court. A fact-filled lesson provides background information about the case and two others related to the concept of judicial review. Scholars...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Constitution And Amendments

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students become familiar with the US Constitution and consider how it affects their lives. They research the Preamble to articulate the purposes of government, compile collages, and research the separation of powers within each branch of...