Curated OER
Government
Perfect for a Christian or private school setting, this lesson plan has learners use their Bible to help them identify the purpose of the government. They examine specific Bible verses then use them to define the government and the...
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Keys to Understanding the Constitution
Article for students will help them to understand the important points of the Constitution. Discussion on the preamble, amendments, amendment process, voting, laws and the powers and limitations of government.
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: The President
A comprehensive learning module on government that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students look at leaders at the different levels of...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Religious Rights in Conflict
What happens when rights conflict? Explore sample conflicts: Free press vs. fair trial, religious rights in conflict, and Singapore: model society or city of fear? Great learning activities and lesson plans for teachers and students.
![Digital History: Declaring Independence [Pdf] Website](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Digital History: Declaring Independence [Pdf] Website")
Digital History
Digital History: Declaring Independence [Pdf]
Follow the steps that Americans took before declaring their independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence set out the ideals and reasons behind this stunning move. Use the student exercises to understand the different levels...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Justification for the State
From Wikipedia, this article outlines the purpose of government and explains how disagreement over purpose can splinter into various movements such as socialism, fascism, and communism. Includes links to further explanations of different...
Other
Liberty Online: Locke's Second Treatise on Government: Of Conquest
At this site you can read Chapter XVI, Of Conquest, by John Locke stating that the basis of any government must be the consent of the people, and implying in the writing that war or revolution is often mistaken as consent. (Published in...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Why Do We Need a Government?
This instructional activity introduces students to some of the basic ideas which were of great importance to the Founders. They used these ideas when they developed the American government. Students will learn why they thought a...
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Federal Versus State Government
Learning Adventure teaches about the differences between federal and state governments as written in the Constitution and shares reasons the founding fathers wanted it this way.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: What Does a District Representative for a State Senator Do?
Learn about the daily tasks and career opportunities of a district representative for a state senator.
Other
The Role of Government: Higher Education
The results of a 1998 poll by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reveals what the the proper role of government in higher education should be.
Other
The Jeffersonian Perspective: Limited Government, Part 1
It is doubtful that Thomas Jefferson would ever have proposed "Limited Government" as an abstract principle unassociated with specific limiting factors. He was more inclined to express his principles in definite and practical terms, not...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Theory of the American Founding: Why Government? (Lesson Plan)
A lesson that considers how the American founders answered the question, What is government? Examines why, from the point of view of the founders, government is not only necessary, but good for human beings.