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The Constitution
Eighth graders watch as their teacher presents information on the Constitution, government and laws through a PowerPoint presentation. In groups, they discuss the importance of government and laws and identify the main ideas in the...
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Supreme Court: Practice with Precedents 2010
Eleventh graders examine the term precedent in the court system. In this American Government lesson, 11th graders research various court cases in history. Students create a study chart that shows comparisons of these cases.
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Introduction to the Constitution: The First Three Articles of the Constitution, Separation of Powers
Students review the first three articles of the United States Constitution. In groups, they examine the three branches of government and their function. They follow the path of a bill until it becomes law and discuss Congress' role.
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Constitutional Convention
Students develop a constitution for a hypothetical country called Permistan by reviewing the constitutions from the other countries they have already studied.
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Checks and Balances
Young scholars take a closer look at the responsibilities of the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. In this U.S. government activity, students read articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Constitution and then use Venn diagrams to...
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Making an Appeal
Learners make an appeal. In this making an appeal lesson students give characteristics of the Washington Supreme Court. Learners examine public policy conflicts and present an appellate case.
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You Be the Judge
Students research and evaluate a case considered by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. They watch a Bill Moyers video, conduct a debate, and write about the decision they would make if they were a...
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The Formation and Function of the Supreme Court
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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Bill of Rights
US history classes explore constitutional rights as they relate to court cases involving teens. Your class must already be familiar with the Bill of Rights before beginning this series of exercises. In preparation for a debate-style...
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Regulating Freedom of Speech
Students examine the nature and limits of the Constitutional right to freedom of speech. They read and analyze the First Amendment, discuss various case studies, and research and record their own opinion on discussion questions.
USA.gov
How The Supreme Court Works
Just how does a case come before the highest court in the land? A graphic flow chart unpacks how plaintiffs come before the Supreme Court. Graphics include background on the nine justices and just how many cases they actually hear each...
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The President's Roles and Responsibilities: Communicating with the President
Students examine the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. president and their own roles as citizens of a democracy. They explore various websites, listen to a State of the Union address, and write a letter to the President of the...
YMCA
Turning Courtrooms into Classrooms
Turn the class into the next episode of Law & Order! Scholars work together to create a mock trial over the course of several weeks before going before a judge for the case performance. They take on different roles, go through...
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Federal Court Systems and Court Cases
Ninth graders investigate the basis for the Common Law Tradition. They examine the organization of the Federal Court System and students identify the various sources of the American Law.
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Across The Centuries
Students analyze the American Bill of Rights, compare it to the English Bill of Rights and note the differences in an essay. They access websites imbedded in this plan to do their research, then present their findings to the class.
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Constitutional Issues: Separation of Powers
Students discribe the principle and the history of separation of powers.
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Bill of Rights -- Texas v. Johnson, 1989
Students examine the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. During a visit to the George Bush Presidential Museum, they watch a video about the Texas v. Johnson flag burning case. In groups, they discover the role of the Supreme Court...
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iCivics: Executive Command
Students explore the role of President of the United States. In this executive branch lesson, students play an online game that requires them to consider the needs of Americans as they act as president.
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Dear Congressperson...
Students identify their local, state, and national officials. They create a short blurb about each official and their function in office. Students choose an issue of concern they would like to write to their local official about,...
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Keyboarding - Nothing but Complaints
Students work in pairs to prepare a legal complaint against a fictional character. They download a template from the Internet and use it to fill out a formal complaint.
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Investigation of the Warren Court
Students study period of Supreme Court history when Earl Warren was the Chief Justice and how the cases of this era effected American society.
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Sandra Day O'Connor
Young scholars describe the achievements and positions that Sandra Day O'Connor has held. They give specific dates of Sandra Day O'Connor's achievements and positions. They identify other great achievements performed by women.