This resource contains an annotated look at the different topics covered within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Click on any subtopic link for in-depth information about that part of the First Amendment.

This unit tracks the development of economics through time, highlighting what early societies did to provide for themselves, how they established trade systems and political systems of taxed goods.

A lesson plan that includes a handout and various follow-up activities for middle schoolers. The instructional activity is described here and a link is provided for downloading the lesson plan and handout.

Unfortunately, it's not possible for a country to maximize both its environmental protection and its economic output. Each country must make a decision about how the two goals should be balanced and how to achieve that balance.

Read about specific examples of environmental laws in the United States.

Not everybody who benefits from a public good contributes to its creation or maintenance. Learn about free riders.

Explore the government regulations, marketing and sales of herbal remedies designated as "dietary supplements" by the Food and Drug Administration. Analyze the labels of various brands of Echinacea for discrepancies in dosage and usage...

Explains what air pollution is, countries with the worst occurrences of it, the history of air pollution, how air pollutants are dispersed and how scientists study this phenomenon, sources of air pollution, the health impact, indoor air...

Learn all about the inner workings of Amateur Radio. Here you can find current programs on the air, learn about licensing, find out about government regulations, and more.

Read about the progressive legisltion supported by President Theodore Roosevelt in his attempt to balance business interests with the public good. Read about his actions concerning conservation, government regulations, and business-labor...

When land has been damaged, efforts are often made to bring it back to health, a process called land reclamation. Activities that damage land, and government regulations in Alberta that allow it to be revived are explained.

This lesson introduces regulation and information as two tools used by government to promote fair competition and complete information in a market economy. Using the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act as a case study, students explore the...

Between the Civil War and World War II, railroads were one of the nation's most important businesses and an integral part of people's lives. In this lesson, students assume the role of detectives investigating why the rail companies...

Consider the debate over prescription drug pricing, the government's role in regulating drug prices, concepts of media literacy and the role of these concepts in pharmaceutical advertising, in this Teacher's Guide to "The Other Drug...

Ale was an important beverage in the Middle Ages as it was considered to be a healthier drink than the often polluted waters, and women played a major role in brewing it. They often brewed it at home, and sold some to neighbors. The...

As the influence of large corporations spread in the age of big business, push-back was inevitable. Read about the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the government's attempts to rein in the laissez-faire attitudes of corporations and the lack...

Progressivism got a push from the Populist movement, a reaction to the forgettable presidents and laissez-faire government in the Gilded Age. Find a listing of authors who wrote about progressive ideas, and see what influence populism...

This lesson reveals to learners how advertisers use words and images to make goods and services look their best. To protect consumers and make sure that competition among sellers is fair in the marketplace, the federal government...

In reading and discussing Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, students examine basic economic concepts and explore the growth of labor unions and the role of government in a market economy.

This center is a research program founded to explore cyberspace by investigating the real and possible boundaries in cyberspace between open and closed systems of code, commerce, governance, and education, and the relationship of law to...

UCLA provides a thorough history of The (British) East India Company and its role as the governing body in India from 1757 to 1857. Includes links to relevant topics and people, providing a nontraditional look at imperialism and its...

This article explains what public goods are, as well as what they are not. It also gives examples of several problems in determining how to determine whether goods are public or private.

This site is the home page of the National Association of Manufacturers and is a great starting point to learn more about modern manufacturing.

The economic philosophy of laissez-faire was espoused by Adam Smith in his book, Wealth of Nations. Read about the concepts of this philosophy, how it pertained to American business in the late 19h century, and what the drawbacks to...