On December 15, 1791, the ratification of the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the UnitedStates of American by three-quarters of the states took place. These were subsequently incorporated into the Constitution and became...

The Supreme Court gets all the glory, but very few federal cases make it to the highest court. An interesting lesson explores the structure of the lower levels of the federal court system. In addition to outlining the organization of...

Students participate in a mock trial. Given the scenario, students prepare a cases concerning the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the right to assemble. In groups, students prepare an opening and closing statement, as well...

Ninth graders explore the role of government on terrorism.  For this current events lesson, 9th graders create a trial for an individual who has been suspected for terrorism.  Students present the case to the jury. 

Twelfth graders explain the difference between a class action and civil law suit. In groups, they compare and contrast criminal and civil trials and review various cases. They determine the place of law in the American constitutional...

In this Bill of Rights worksheet, students listen to a song titled "Bill of Rights," then match amendments to their descriptions. An answer key is included.

Students investigate the concept of having rights as citizens. In this citizenship activity, students examine the rights that are given to citizens of the United States in the Bill of Rights. They draw pictures of eight of their...

Middle schoolers investigate the consequences of eliminating one or more of the amendments to the Bill of Rights.

Students study the ideas and experiences that shaped the founding fathers' perspective about government. In this the government lesson plan, students examine the Articles of Confederation as they relate to the power of government....

This document provides useful information for a unit on democracy in China. While it does not include detailed activities, it does have a list of democratic principles, and important facts about China that facilitate understanding of its...

In this United States citizenship worksheet, students learns the qualifications for U.S. citizenship, the rights of that citizenship as well as the responsibilities therein.

Focusing on the judicial branch of government, the fourth lesson in this series explores the structure of the US courts system. Beginning with an engaging activity based on the short story The Lady or the Tiger, students go on...

Students identify personal rights allowed under the law in the United States. An exploration of the legal process leads students to describe how the American legal system works. This instructional activity is intended for students...

Eighth graders examine the road to the American Revolution. In this Boston Massacre activity, 8th graders investigate the testimony of Captain Thomas Preston. Students write their own verdicts based on his testimony.

Students list the role of the prosecutor and the role of defense counsel. They state the elements of robbery and defense of compulsion. Students conduct a mock hearing, following the sequence of steps in an adjudicatory hearing and...

In this current events worksheet, learners analyze a political cartoon about the Bill of Rights and respond to 3 talking point questions.

Short, simple summary with the full text of the 7th amendment of the Bill of Rights detailing trial by jury in civil cases and the rights of those being sued.

Short, simple summary with the full text of the 5th amendment of the Bill of Rights detailing the need for 'due process of the law' before punishing a person and the right to a trial by jury as detailed in the Constitution.

A historical background and description of the legal term, 'jury.'

Yale's School of Law provides the text of the ten original amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

Text and summary of the 7th Amendment to the Constitution. From Annenberg Classroom with links to related materials including videos, timeline and news article.

There was no Bill of Rights attached to the original Constitution, but it was a topic of discussion. Read a reconstruction of speeches of delegates to the Constitutional Convention who debated for and against the inclusion of a way to...

An in-depth look at the different types of contempt of court, in the United States legal system.

A clickable index of the 85 Federalist Papers. The text of each letter (paper) sent to New York newspapers in 1787 and 1788 is easily accessed.