Handout
Other

American Revolution: Those Glorious "Principles of 1776": Confederate Perspective

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explains the Southern perspective on the voluntary union of states and the justification for the South seceding from the Union.
Lesson Plan
Other

Freedom Forum: Lesson Plans for the First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 10th
These lessons address constitutional principles and contemporary issues involving the First Amendment. They intend to have explore how freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss just how far individual...
Lesson Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: What Is Authority? [Pdf]

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
This in-depth lesson teaches the meaning of authority, the benefits and drawbacks of someone having authority over another person, where authority comes from and who uses it, how it helps to solve problems, and how leaders are chosen....
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Separation of Powers

For Students 9th - 10th
Informative discussion of the ideas behind the Constitutional principle of Separation of Powers.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Federal System

For Students 9th - 10th
Outline of the principles embedded in a Federal System of government attempting to balance states' rights with the need for a central government.
Handout
Illinois Institute of Technology

The Oyez Project: Katz v. United States

For Students 9th - 10th
Katz v. United States altered the meaning of the 4th Amendment, the right to search and seizure, appealing his case in 1967 regarding the investigator's use of electronic surveillance. Oyez features the facts and recordings from the...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

For Students 9th - 10th
Provided here are the principles and sources of France's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a basic charter of human liberty that later led to the French Revolution and the French Constitution.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Debate and Compromise

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Human Nature, Government and Individual Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview discussion of the views held by Madison and Hamilton that people, in general, need to have written into the law certain checks and balances to guard against abuse of power, protect individual rights and encompass a pluralistic...
Primary
Other

A Republic, if You Can Keep It

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay by U.S. Congressional Representative Ron Paul of Texas on the state of the American republic delivered at the dawn of the twenty-first century. He argues for the strong separation of powers among the three branches of government...
Website
Oswego City School District

Regents Exam Prep Center: Introduction to u.s. Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the ideas and principles of American government including its influences, foundation, and basic tenets (such as checks and balances and federalism).
Handout
Other

Parliament of Canada: The Rule of Law and the Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
Late Canadian Senator Eugene A. Forsey left a public legacy to all Canadians including this website hosted by the Parliament of Canada. In this article, he introduces important legal principles that underpin the Canadian court system,...
Study Guide
Ohio Test Prep

Ohio Test Prep: Module 3: Historical Documents

For Students 9th - 10th
Ohio test preparation material on the important historical documents from which the principles of U.S. democracy are reflected. With video tutorials, practice, and assessment.
Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Supreme Court: Landmark Cases: Marbury v. Madison (1803)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS features a summary of the landmark Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison, which deals with the principle of "judicial review." Opinion written by Chief Justice John Marshall.
Handout
Other

Constitutional Principle: Charles Pinckney and Separation of Church and State

For Students 9th - 10th
A short article describing Pinckney's views on religion and the role of the state. Excerpted from a book by Anson Phelps Stokes.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Cause for Debate

For Students 9th - 10th
The Constitution creates separate institutions that must share power, there will always be disputes over the basic principles. Check out some of the hot issues (term limits, electoral college, judicial review) that are in dispute even to...
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Plessy vs. Ferguson

For Students 9th - 10th
Transcript of the infamous Supreme Court decision that established the constitutionality of the principle of "Separate but equal," public facilities for members of different races. This was eventually overturned by the 1954 and 1955...
Article
University of California

Ucla: Manas: History and Politics: Public Interest Litigation

For Students 9th - 10th
Though the Constitution of India guarantees equal rights to all citizens, irrespective of race, gender, religion, and other considerations, and the "directive principles of state policy" as stated in the Constitution obligate the...
Website
Other

Representative Democracy Has Failed

For Students 9th - 10th
This politically oriented site outlines the degeneration of American Democracy and the erosion of democratic principles as exemplified by unconstitutional actions on the part of the Federal and State governments, as in the examples of...
Handout
Stephen Byrne

History for Kids: Bill of Rights

For Students 1st - 6th
History for Kids reference page provides an overview of the Bill of Rights, outlining each of the ten amendments, and teaching about the history and principles of the U.S. Consitution and first ten amendments.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Annotation 10: Sixth Amendment: Assistance to Council

For Students 9th - 10th
This article uses specific court cases to show how the right to counsel at trial was developed into the present day standard.
Lesson Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: The Legacy of Ronald Reagan [Pdf]

For Teachers 7th - 9th
This lesson traces Ronald Reagan's ascent from obscurity to the pinnacle of political power in the United States. It also examines the constitutional, political, and civic principles associated with the public life of Ronald Reagan...
Lesson Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: James Madison and Executive Power

For Teachers 10th - 12th
This instructional activity examines the legacy of the "philosopher statesman," James Madison. Madison combined the intellectual knowledge and creativity of the scholar with the practical savvy of the politician, a man of strong...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: To Establish Justice

For Students 9th - 10th
Outline explaining the ideals and intentions for a newly formed nation as spelled out in the of the Declaration of Independence.

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