University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Debate and Compromise
The 18th-century statesmen who met in Philadelphia were adherents of Montesquieu's concept of the balance of power in politics. This principle was supported by colonial experience and strengthened by the writings of John Locke, with...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Federalist No. 78
This resource from Khan Academy includes the full text of Alexander Hamilton's Federalist No. 78, one of the Federalist Papers. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics...
![I Civics: Our Courts: Constitution Day Lesson: Checks and Balances [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "I Civics: Our Courts: Constitution Day Lesson: Checks and Balances [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
iCivics
I Civics: Our Courts: Constitution Day Lesson: Checks and Balances [Pdf]
Students learn the roles and responsibilities of each branch of government and where the checks and balances are located in this role-playing lesson plan. Requires Adobe Reader.
US National Archives
Docs Teach: Checks and Balances in Action
In this activity, young scholars will analyze documents that span the course of American history to see examples of 'checks and balances' between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in action. Students will then match the...
US National Archives
Docs Teach: Separation of Powers or Shared Powers
In this activity, young scholars will analyze documents that illustrate the relationship between the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Using the scale in Weighing the Evidence, students will decide whether the United States...
Other
Constitutional Court or Spain: Tribunal Constitucional
The Constitutional Tribunal is a part of the Judicial Branch of the government. This Tribunal oversees that the political leaders and the laws uphold the Constitution of Bolivia. The website provides brief information about the number of...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Extra! Extra! Supreme Court Case Makes Headlines!
This is a project to conclude the study of the Judicial Branch of our government. The students, working in pairs, will be assigned a landmark Supreme Court case to research in a computer lab setting. They will then construct a one-page...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Virginia Plan
Learn about the Virginia Plan that was based on a national and state government system with a separation of powers consisting of legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also contained a resolution for proportional...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Baker v. Carr
This resource from Khan Academy provides practice questions over Baker v. Carr, a Supreme Court case that addresses equality in voting districts. These questions are intended for students taking high school or college level American...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Congressional Behavior: Foundational
This resource from Khan Academy provides foundational-level practice questions over Congressional behavior. These questions are intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including...
Other
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma: Government
The Choctaw Nation's governing structure is set forth in its revised 1984 constitution. Like the U.S. government, there are three branches, executive, legislative and judicial. Read about how the tribal government of this Choctaw Nation...
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Chad: Government
A concise description of the government of Chad which discusses the government, judiciary, and voting rights. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: How Constitution Used to Organize the New Govt [Pdf]
This lesson describes how, using the guidelines provided in the Constitution, the First Congress in April 1789 named the new president and vice president, provided funding for the new government, organized the executive branch, organized...
Read Works
Read Works: American Government Jury Duty
[Free Registration/Login Required] This first person account explains the topic of jury duty. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes scaffolding for...
US National Archives
Nara: Charters of Freedom: The Power of the Courts: Marbury vs. Madison, 1803
Website with primary source material on the making of the U.S. government and Constitution explains how Marbury vs. Madison brought the power of Judicial Review to the Supreme Court.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Supreme Court
This site has a simple explanation of the Supreme Court for kid's to read. You can also access the Official Supreme Court Web site from here.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Government Glossary
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson Activotes are used to access student's prior knowledge of the principles of the US constitutional government. Student knows the essential principles stated in the US Constitution-...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Branches of Us Government
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart explains the 3 branches of US government-- Executive, Judicial and Legislative-- and includes some questions for assessment.
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: The American Judicial System
The New York Times Learning Network has an interactive & printable crossword puzzle on The American Judicial System.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Government Vocabulary
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews important vocabulary regarding the three branches of the United States government.
Other
Texas Transparency: Texas State Government at a Glance
A quick, organized look at the history and organizational structure of the three branches of Texas state government.
Other
Federal Judicial Center: What the Federal Courts Do
U.S. government-sponsored site that provides excellent information on the distinction between civil law and criminal law. It is part of a larger website that is dedicated to explaining the workings of the federal judicial system....
University of Missouri
Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Separation of Powers
When do the actions of one branch of the federal government unconstitutionally intrude upon the powers of another branch? This article surveys the history of this question in historic Supreme Court cases.
Library of Congress
Loc: South Sudan
This site provides links to numerous documents concerning the government of South Sudan and its executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Links to related articles about the country are also featured.