Judicial Learning Center
The Ratification Debate
Most Americans profess their love for the US Constitution, but this was not always the case. An informative lesson overviews the debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists by summarizing the main arguments of each side. It...
Judicial Learning Center
Levels of the Federal Courts
The Supreme Court gets all the glory, but very few federal cases make it to the highest court. An interesting lesson explores the structure of the lower levels of the federal court system. In addition to outlining the organization of...
Judicial Learning Center
The Constitution
Supreme Court justices debate the meaning of the US Constitution, but we expect teachers to explain it to scholars with far less training and experience. A daunting task for sure, but it's not insurmountable with resources that simplify...
Judicial Learning Center
Article III and the Courts
What's the best way to make sense of the Constitution? A helpful lesson contains both the text of Article III and annotation of each of its sections, breaking it down into easy-to-understand parts. It also includes links to a...
Judicial Learning Center
Your 1st Amendment Rights
Why should classes care about the First Amendment? An engaging lesson serves as a powerful tool for answering just that. As all four cases in the lesson relate directly to freedom of expression in schools, young scholars explore the...
ProCon
Electoral College
The Electoral College's role in elections is sometimes confusing and controversial. Pupils use a debate topics website to research the pros and cons of the practice to debate whether the United States should still use the Electoral...
Utah Education Network
Uen: Themepark: Liberty: Three Branches of Government
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around the three branches of government. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids: The Three Branches of Government
Each of the three branches of the United States government is described - the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch.
iCivics
I Civics: Games: Branches of Power
Interactive and educational game puts players in control of all three branches of government and tests their abilities to turn issues of concern into full-fledged laws.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Branches of Government
A brief overview of the origins of the three branches of the federal government, with links to more in-depth information about each branch. Also discusses the concerns of the Founding Fathers about creating a government that had...
iCivics
I Civics: Branches of Power
Do you like running things? Branches of Power allows you to do something that no one else can: control all three branches of government! You'll have the power to write any laws you want about issues you choose. Careful, though, there's a...
The White House
The White House: Our Government
Overviews of the major elements of U.S. government, compiled and published by the White House: three branches of the federal government (executive, legislative, judicial), the Constitution, federal agencies and commissions, elections and...
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Congress for Kids
Take a tour of the federal government with Uncle Sam and learn the story of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the three branches of government, and elections. Along the way learn how laws are made, about the Bill of...
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Federal Digital System
The core mission of Keeping America Informed, dated to 1813 when Congress determined to make information regarding the work of the three branches of Government available to all Americans. The U.S Government Printing Office (GPO) provides...
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Judicial Branch (6 8)
This site from Ben's Guide to U.S. Government provides a brief overview of the judicial branch of the federal government. Discusses the origin of the judicial branch, the concept of judicial review, and functions of the judicial branch....
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Learning Adventures: Branches of Government
Beginning page of a Learning Adventure examines what parts of the Constitution give the branches of the Federal Government their specific powers. Those three parts are Article I, Article II, and Article III.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Kids History: United States Government for Kids
Study the United States Government on this webpage. Learn about the balance of powers, the three branches, and the Constitution.
Other
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma: Government
The Choctaw Nation's governing structure is set forth in its revised 1984 constitution. Like the U.S. government, there are three branches, executive, legislative and judicial. Read about how the tribal government of this Choctaw Nation...
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Branches of Government
Ben's Guide is a fun way to present US laws to students grades K-12. This site presents a brief history of the branches of Government. Links to related sites are available.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Our Government
Cartoon Ben Franklin guides students through the U.S. government by providing short descriptions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
iCivics
I Civics: Curriculum Units
A large collection of Social Studies units, WebQuests, and games that focuses on teaching students how government works and the importance of being responsible, informed American citizens. Units are linked to state standards. A teacher...
Digital History
Digital History: Republicanism
The framers of the Constitution had a great distaste for the monarchial society of Great Britain. See how this was reflected in the checks and balances they wrote into the Constitution in an effort to create a working republic.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Tough Issues
Read about the change of plans when delegates to the Philadelphia convention decided to write a new constitution to replace the Articles of Convention. See the ideas delegates had to address concerns of large and small states.
Digital History
Digital History: Completing a Final Draft
Read about the committee that produced a final draft of the Constitution to present to the entire Constitutional Convention. Find out what the delegates to the convention kept in the final draft and what they changed.