US Mint
United States Mint: Branches of Power
Save the federal government from Oppressor Sam, and learn about the US Constitution to restore the three branches of government.
PBS
Structure of Congress and the Legislative Process Lesson
This lesson explores the structure of Congress and the legislative process. There is an introduction, a research activity, an assessment, and a role play activity.
Lectric Law Library
The 'Lectric Law Library's Lexicon: Eighth Amendment
This definition page at 'Lectric Library discusses the definition in the context of significant Supreme Court cases.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Japanese Internment
Discusses the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, an action that resulted from Franklin D. Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066. The constitutionality of the order was challenged all the way to the Supreme Court by Fred...
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: The United States Constitution
Article covers the history and origins of the US Constitution.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Constitutional Convention
The delegates of the Constitutional Convention framed the Constitution of the United States as a basis of government to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Other
Angelo State University: Constitutional Government
An outline of the key points in a lecture that looks at the differences between the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution.
Ohio State University
Osu History Teaching Institute: Articles of Confederation vs. the u.s. Constitution
Fourth graders will be introduced to the primary documents of the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution. They will figure out the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and compare them to the US Constitution. Students...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the u.s. Constitution
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Ratifying the Constitution
The delegates to the Constititional Convention produced a new governing document for the new United States. Read about how they determined to take the ratification process to the people of the states.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Article V: Scope of the Amending Power
This resource provides Article V of the United States Constitution, along with background information about its content.
The History Cat
The History Cat: The Constitutional Convention: Creating the Constitution
Explains why the Articles of Confederation were not strong enough to hold the country together. One result was a farmers' rebellion in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays, which was precipitated by a debt crisis that caused many farmers to...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Explaining the Bill of Rights
Read about the need for a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution. Find out what each of the first ten amendments means.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Circling the Bill of Rights
This is a hands-on, inquiry project to create a 3-D graphic organizer for the research and study of the Bill of Rights. It may be a stand-alone activity or may be included as part of a unit of study on the Constitution. Students will...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Bill of Rights
The Constitution spelled out the powers of the national government, but many Anti-federalists felt there should be equally explicit a guarantee of individual rights. Read about the compiliation of what became known as the Bill of Rights...
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Ap Us Government and Politics: Unit 2: Bill of Rights Reading Guide [Pdf]
A 2-page worksheet where students fill in the blanks with information about the rights and protections embedded in the amendments in the Bill of Rights. They are also asked to explain the meanings of eight terms used in the Bill of Rights.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Election of 1860
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was a watershed moment for the union of the country. Read about the political conventions, several candidates, and the votes that were split among them. Find a map that shows how the electoral...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ratification of the Us Constitution
This resource from Khan Academy provides practice questions over the ratification of the US Constitution. These questions are intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the...
iCivics
I Civics: The Federalist Debate
The ratification debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists gives us insight into the ideas behind both sides and a better understanding of how our government developed in its early years.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Congress and the Remaking of the South, 1865 1866
This section from a chapter on "The Era of Reconstruction" describes the efforts made by Congress in 1865 and 1866 to bring to life its vision of Reconstruction and explains how the Fourteenth Amendment transformed the Constitution.
University of Nebraska Omaha
Ec Ed Web: How Has the Constitution Shaped the Economic System in the Us?
This lesson plan deals with how the U.S. Constitution has shaped our economic system. Provides standards, objectives, and materials.
Other
Us Congress: Congress, the Court, and the Constitution
Transcript of a congressional hearing, held in 1994, to discuss whether Congress had given too much power to the Supreme Court, against the express intent of the Founding Fathers. This transcript is lengthy but informative, containing...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution: Drafting a More Perfect Union
This lesson provides discussion, culminating, and extension activities to enhance student understanding of the Constitution, and the Committees of Detail and Style. Students have the opportunity to compare the work of those two...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: Ratifying the Constitution
The process for ratifying the United States Constitution is explained in simple terms. Suggestions for research projects, resource links, and some activities are included. The rest of the site has lots more information on the U. S....