It's hard to believe the abolition movement was once seen as scandalous. Help learners understand how the US Constitution changed everything. A variety of activities such as corresponding reading activities, group work ideas, and...

The House of Representatives has a lot of responsibility  in the United States government. But how did it all begin, and why is it the way it is now? A comprehensive lesson answers all of these questions about the US Constitution and...

An informative resource gives scholars a look into why the US Constitution placed certain federal powers over that of the state. A variety of activities about constitutional clauses helps to create meaningful learning.

Declaring war is not as easy as some may think. High schoolers learn about Congress's limits regarding war by reading important clauses in the US Constitution. Various independent and collaborative activities reinforce learning, making...

The Founding Fathers are larger than life in history books, but an engaging video resource brings them up close to your pupils. As viewers meet the founders in the National Constitution Center's Signers' Hall, they learn about the...

After reading the contextual essay, "Assembling, Amplifying, and Ascending: Recent Trends Among Women in Congress 1977–2006," groups select a woman senator or representative and research her background and contributions.

Find out the differences between presidential and midterm elections with an informative resource. Pupils discuss the importance of midterms to the presidency and how midterms affect the balance of government branches. They also fill out...

Why have a House and Senate and not just one single Congress? Learners research the need for a bicameral Congress in the system of the United States government and politics. They view a short Crash Course video, the second in a 50-part...

Scholars investigate the makeup and division in the legislative branch known as Congress by watching a short video outlining the function of committees within both houses. The topic inspires active thought and discussion about the...

Today, Cuba and America sometimes struggle with diplomatic relations, but did you know that America went to war against Spain to free Cuba? Learners examine many interesting facts related to the Spanish American War using an informative...

Take your classroom debate to the Senate floor! A thorough resource teaches learners about the debate process in the Senate. After watching video clips, pupils conduct research to prepare for a peer debate.

Join Congress as they assess their economic abilities for spending—and as they discover their limits. High schoolers use an educational resource to explore Congress's economic powers and learn to apply these concepts to their everyday...

The Internet is the host of a wealth information—good and bad—and it takes practice to know which sites offer the most credible material. Here, scholars explore a variety of news sources to discover valuable information on topics such as...

New ReviewThe era after the Civil War saw a flourishing of African Americans exercising their rights. Using graphic organizers and Internet research, pupils consider the legacy of Benjamin Sterling Turner, who sat in Congress. Afterward, they...

What's it like to be a senator or member of the House of Representatives? Using a video game simulation, learners discover what it is like to craft and pass legislation from its idea through conference committee. Pop ups and annotation...

The purpose the electoral college and its role in the 2000 US Presidential Election is the focus of this animated video. Use this film as the basis of a class debate about the need for the electoral college.

Students review the roles and responsibitlies of members of Congress. After reading excerpts of a book about one member, they write their own version about the same representative. They also identify the challenges and benefits of begin...

Students identify the roles and responsibilies of a member of Congress. In groups, they brainstorm a list of qualities senators and representatives should have. They also work together to develop a brochure for someone to examine if they...

See various examples of connotations in phrases and semantics. Speech acts are displayed along with their contexts and meanings.

Students identify key representatives in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal and State governments

Students find out who their national, state, and local representatives are and write and mail a letter to one of them. The letter should be persuasive and should attempt to influence their representative's vote on a given issue.

A brief video examines a demonstration that crossed the nation. After a congressman pushed to criminalize undocumented immigrants, Latino Americans banded together to fight for immigration reform. 

Henry B. Gonzalez, José Luis Guttierez, and Willie Velasquez are the focus of a video that spotlights the contributions the three individuals made for the Chicano population. Actual footage alongside passionate interviews from family...

Our elected officials are supposed to represent us, but what does it mean when they aren't like us? Budding citizens explore the demographic makeup of the US Congress, the role of money in political elections, and the Citizens United...