Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Has the Greatest Voice?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the impact that interest groups, scientists, government health organizations and legislators have on health issues in the United States. They explain the role of the committee hearing in the lawmaking process. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The U.S. Constitution and Disability Laws

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the United States Constitution for laws that protect people with disabilities. They discover how the education system provides equal education to all students and how the Federal Government makes sure this is occuring.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bill of Rights -- Texas v. Johnson, 1989

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. During a visit to the George Bush Presidential Museum, they watch a video about the Texas v. Johnson flag burning case. In groups, they discover the role of the Supreme Court...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sow the Seeds of Victory!

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Pupils use the National Archives and Records Administration's records to research the history of the U.S. Food Administation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Telegram from Senator Joseph McCarthy to President Harry S. Truman

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students research Senator Joseph McCarthy's February 9, 1950 speech, given at Wheeling, West Virginia, in which he claimed more than 200 State Department employees were members of the Communist Party.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Public Choices of Senator Aspyer Tu Moore

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students participate in a play in which Senator Aspyer Tu Moore is finishing his first term in the Senate and has decided to seek re-election in the fall.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Careers in the Capital

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the role that the president plays in appointing persons into the Cabinet or White House positions. Various positions that they might like to hold are researched and the changes that a new administrations creates in those...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fighting Political Apathy Among Youth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research and describe youth participation in political elections. They survey random adults about their voting behavior and chart the results in a graph. They compile their results to predict future voter participation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do They Do? A Current Events Action

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research and identify philanthropic organizations involved in current events. In this current events lesson, students search newspaper articles for philanthropic organizations, such as the Red Cross, and how they are related to...
Article
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Wwics: Congressional Oversight: Rules of the Road Less Traveled

For Students 9th - 10th
This extremely well-written article is a thorough description of the powers, responsibilities and inherent problems of the current congressional oversight system. It is easily read and well organized. (Oct. 24, 2004)
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Mini Lesson: Congressional Committees

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students discover the different types of congressional committees and their responsibilities in this lesson.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: A Century of Lawmaking: Congressional, 1774 1875

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the actual statements from the Library of Congress as recorded during the Federal Convention, of the debates on representation in the House of Representatives and of the struggle between small and large states. The responses to this...
Handout
Other

Congressional Research Service: Iran's 2009 Presidential Elections [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
In this Congressional Research Service Report, Casey L. Addis examines Iran's 2009 Presidential Elections in their entirety, beginning with a summary of the candidates and their campaigns and concluding with a description of the violence...
Handout
Other

Celebrating Rights and Responsibilities: Story of the 15th Amendment in Maryland

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource houses an essay on the passing of the 15th Amendment in Maryland. The essay discusses the political motivations behind the passing and how this affected the black population of the state.
Activity
Other

U.s. House of Representatives: The Legislative Process

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Learn about the House of Representatives and how it carries out its responsibilities and duties according to the U.S. Constitution.
Website
Other

House of Representatives Judiciary Committee

For Students 9th - 10th
The website of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee which is responsible for overseeing the administration of justice at the federal level and plays a role in impeachments.
Article
Other

Peoria Magazine: How to Influence Legislators

For Students 9th - 10th
Elected officials need your advice and ideas. This is an article that tells you exactly how to go about advising congressional representatives the correct way in order to be heard.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Proclamation on the Wade Davis Bill, 7 8 188

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is the text of Abraham Lincoln's response to the Wade-Davis Bill, Congress' response to his plan for Reconstruction.
Website
Other

Joint Committee on Taxation

For Students 9th - 10th
A general explanation of the Joint Committee on Taxation is contained on this website. The members of the committee are listed by name and state. The site aslo describes the responsibilities of this committee.
Handout
Other

National Agricultural Law Center: Clean Water Act: A Summary of the Law [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a summary of the Clean Water Act and sections such as background, federal and state responsibilities, regulations, enforcement, and major amendments are provided.
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: To What Extent Was Reconstruction a Revolution? (Part 2)

For Teachers 10th - 12th
This activity is a continuation of the lesson for Part 1. In it, students will examine the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and determine whether their analysis of this document changes their responses to the guiding question in Part 1...
Unit Plan
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: What Is Citizenship?

For Students 3rd - 5th
Being a citizen comes with rules you must follow and responsibilities towards other members of your community and country. Learn what it takes to become a U.S. citizen, what behaviors are expected of you, what civil disobedience is, and...
Website
US House of Representatives

History, Art, and Archives: Changing Social and Institutional Perceptions

For Students 9th - 10th
The problem faced by congresswomen and other women in society in post-war America was how to balance domestic responsibilities and professional life. Times were changing and congresswomen began to buck traditional congressional practices...
Handout
Other

Library of Congress/crs: Macedonia Country Background [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This Congressional Research Service report examines the ethnic tensions between Albanian rebels and the Macedonian government during the 1990s as well as the global response to the conflict in Macedonia in 2001. In addition, it provides...