Article describes how the written constitutions adopted by each of the 13 colonies were the seeds of the U.S. Constitution including the Bill of Rights. Includes questions for discussion and small group activity.

September 17 is recognized in the United States as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The purpose of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is to commemorate the creation and signing of the supreme law of the land and to honor and...

Ben's Guide is a fun way to present US laws to school aged children. This site presents a thorough investigation into ways to amend the Constitution. Links to related sites are available.

A good biography on Pinckney and his role in the formation of the Constitution.

These step-by-step lesson plans help students understand the historical background to the U.S. Constitution. Students simulate a hypothetical situation where they must create their own rules and figure out how to work together. Links to...

The first unit of an online course on AP US Government and Politics. It explores key concepts of American government, including constitutional government, republicanism, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, construction...

See transcripts of the debates of the Federal Convention of 1787, the draft of the Constitution, or see the facsimiles of the original documents. Trace the progress of the Constitution using the historical documents themselves.

Students will review the Amistad case and use passages from the case explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system. Also, included are links to the background of the Amistad case, a...

This U. S. Department of State article discusses The Respect For Human Rights Constitution in Niger. Referring to various sections of the constitution, examples are given for violations in each section by government officials. (28...

Provides information on the Electoral College and how we use this system to elect the President of the U.S. Features links to much more information on the election.

This site from the United States Senate provides information about the evolution of the Senate as the Constitution was being written by the Constitutional Congress.

A lesson plan, including an extension opportunity, addressing whether the Stolen Valor Act violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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.

Learning Adventure teaches about the differences between federal and state governments as written in the Constitution and shares reasons the founding fathers wanted it this way.

The original text of official Resolutions by members of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 during the debate creating a new national U.S. Constitution.

Article discussing 45 years of the Cold War between Russia and the U.S. Questions for discussion and small group activity.

Lesson and activity in which students analyze foreign policy challenges on paying ransom. Students study U.S. response to the Barbary pirates and apply their knowledge to modern day terrorism and foreign policy examples.

Lesson and activity on conflict of cultures in which students study U.S. overtaking lands of Mexico and California and form policy on property rights and citizenship of conquered cultures. Activity guidelines, questions for discussion...

Information about Connecticut's delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Includes information on Oliver Ellsworth, a key supporter of the Great Compromise, as well as William Samuel Johnson and Roger Sherman.

In this lesson, students will examine some of the fundamental ideas about government that is contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. When the lesson is completed, students should be able to...

This site is provided for by the University of Groningen. Learn about the struggle for approval by the states of the U.S. Constitution, continuous disagreements after the Constitutional Convention between the Federalists and the...

Lesson and activity in which students learn about the importance of the Supreme Court, balance of power, and judicial reform.

Here you will find background information concerning the Articles of Confederation. Underneath the photo of the document, click on each page to view the original document.

Learning module on American Government prepares students to take the Ohio state tests in Social Studies on topics including Laws, U.S. Constitution, Rights and Responsibilities, Framework of Government, and Separation of Powers. Includes...