Majority Rule Teacher Resources

Young scholars explore government. In this decision making lesson, students discover the importance of majority rule in the passing of bills. They all participate in a class debate and practice the different forms of decision making....

Students explore various forms of decision making including majority rule, executive, consensus and autocracy (as well as exploring the power of veto), when they debate a bill in a class parliament.

Students practice the voting process by taking a group vote using fractions or percents. In this voting process lesson, students review the voting process and vote using hands or a private ballot. Students tally the responses to the vote...

In American democracy, majority rules but what prevents the voices of the few from being crushed? Using excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's writings, young historians explore cases where minority rights were trampled upon. Extension...

Too often the majority rules, and the minorities suffer. Scholars investigate how the Fourteenth Amendment deals with the issue of discrimination. A short video, the 31st of a 50-part series, helps individuals analyze the concept of...

Dred Scott was a harbinger of the Civil War. An enslaved man claimed freedom because his owner had taken him into free territory. Not only did the Supreme Court rule that Dred Scott and his wife were to remain enslaved, but it also ruled...

Young scholars color code a map of the United States and label the amount of Electoral votes each state has. In this Electoral College lesson plan, students conduct a vote of their own.

Tenth graders examine the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's and how American Jews were involved. They discuss the responsibilities of any minority or ethnic group. They consider the process of change in politics as well.

Explore the structure and content of the US Constitution in the second lesson of this five-part social studies series. A collection of activities, games, and videos complement a class reading of a document summarizing the US...

Easily broken into pieces for several class sessions, this presentation is a great way to transition your class out of a Civil War unit and closer to the 20th century. Engaging photographs, including relevant maps and humorous political...

The sovereignty of U.S. Native American nations is the focus of a resource that asks class members to compare the Right to Self-Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples with a fact sheet that...

Group members role play state legislators, supporters of and opponents to the The DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors). After listening to the arguments put forth for and against the immigration...

This is a simple but effective introduction to democracy. It requires the class to generate working definitions of key terms (provided) and to determine the degree of democracy in various geographic locations today. After they conduct...

A thorough exploration of the Puritan Migration and settlement of Plymouth, this presentation is sure to engage your young historians with its clear maps and historical documents. The presentation differentiates the philosophies of...

Harper Lee's classic tale of Scout Finch's experience with prejudice and racism, To Kill a Mockingbird, provides the text for a 23-clue crossword puzzle.

Students consider race and representation. In this voting rights lesson, students listen to their instructor lecture on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Georgia congressional districts, and North Carolina voting districts. Students respond...

Learners investigate the relationship between state and national governments. They define the principles of American federalism how the constitution outlines the powers of state and federal government. Lesson focuses on Nebraska...

Send your high schoolers on a scavenger hunt through popular culture (music, television, video games, movies) to find allusions to Shakespeare. They must each provide three to share with the class, and the one they present cannot have...

Students discover what a dictatorship is by examining the holocaust.  In this government instructional activity, students discuss the laws that were enacted for Nazis to take control of Germany, and the types of laws we have put...

Learners examine the day in the life of a homeless person. For this humanitarian lesson, students examine the life of a homeless person while discovering the importance of social justice in our society.

Seventh graders build muscle strength by using elastic bands. In this elastic band exercise lesson, 7th graders do various stretches and movements using an elastic band. Students go to different stations to do different exercises....

In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 8 short answer and essay questions about the U.S. Constitution. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.

Third graders explore the concepts of time and consumer goods. In this telling time lesson, 3rd graders respond to questions about the passage of time and goods and services. This lesson incorporates the use a video titled...