Twelfth graders survey how controversial court cases have changed the viewpoints of civil rights.  In this U.S. Government instructional activity, 12th graders work in small groups to prepare summaries of specific court cases, then...

High schoolers examine state rights and the commerce clause. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary documents from Gibbons v. Ogden and discuss the implications of the decision.

Students learn why the census makes a difference. In this U.S. Census lesson plan, students describe and explain the roles that individuals, government agencies, and partner groups play in the census.

In this Presidential duties activity, students match the duties with the name of the jobs the President has. Students have 6 jobs and 16 duties to match to those jobs.

Students investigate the importance of separation of powers, checks, balances, and judicial review. They also investigate how national and state governments are linked.

Students explore the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. They research a philosopher using reference books and reliable Internet sources and write a two-page paper utilizing proper writing conventions. In addition, they...

Students examine gays rights issues in the United States. In this gay marriage lesson, students investigate how people have made their cases before the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government to secure their...

Students examine the Civil Rights Movements in the U.S., both current and historic. In small groups students investigate a specific civil rights group, create an illustrated timeline, noting key events, people, and state and federal laws.

Students study the atrocities of slavery. They examine the issues raised by the legacy of slavery in Brazil by reading and discussing "Brazil's Former Slave Havens Slowly Pressing for Rights." They create a slave identity based on...

Students become familiar with the many roles of the president. They are given various scenarios. They must decide which of his "hats" he must wear given the specifics of each situation.

How did Federalists feel about the federal government? Learners search for the answers in the Federalist Paper No. 51, which discusses the powers of the presidency. Then, they answer various questions to test for their comprehension of...

The path to a more perfect union was rockier than most history books would lead you to believe. Young historians read “Antifederalist No. 47,” written by James Madison (under the pen name “Centinel”), which sharply criticizes the...

Who has the final say in matters dealing with the rules under the United States Constitution? The case Marbury v. Madison brings to light the issue of judicial review. Learners investigate the Supreme Court's opinion in the case with a...

Fourth graders examine the history of the Ohio Statehouse and order the major historical events in its development. The instructional activity traces the development from the time of Ohio's vast wilderness to the house's completion in 1861.

Tenth graders analyze Roosevelt's Fireside Chats. In this Franklin D. Roosevelt presidency, 10th graders determine how well FDR's government programs aided victims of the Great Depression. Students examine selected Fireside Chats and...

Fourth graders explore the U.S. Constitution and how is protects the rights and freedoms of American citizens. They run through various circumstances and decide whether a person's rights have been violated.

Useful as a review assignment or as a quiz, these ten questions on the U.S. Constitution address its creation. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin are the main topics of the questions, as well as The Three-Fifths Compromise.

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.

Learners visit the Missouri bar Website to examine information about the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments. They complete a variety of activities from the provided lessons including the judiciary, Fourth Amendment issues, civil law,...

Students begin to examine the lawmaking process. Using their text, they describe the role of the three branches of government. In groups, they identify the four basic values protected by law and define the concept of lobbying and...

Fourth graders study authority and power as its used in government. In this government lesson, 4th graders define power and authority. Students then read different scenarios of authority and power examples in people as well as...

Students create a series of drawings to show the process of how the Supreme Court does its work. The drawings may be in strip cartoon form or a series of separate illustrations.

For this Articles of Confederation worksheet, students fill in blanks in an outline about the Articles. No text reference is given.