Did you know that the United States Constitution was adopted after many state constitutions were already in place? Young scholars examine facts about the influence of states through an informative and interesting resource. Groups then...

Is it illegal to lie about military service? Discuss the ways the First Amendment affects the Stolen Valor Act with a lesson that focuses on the Supreme Court case U.S. v. Alvarez. As high schoolers learn more about the history of the...

Going green? Scholars investigate the creation of the US National Park program. Through diary entries as well as expert testimony, they synthesize information and analyze the need for conservation and preservation. Finally, they display...

This resource presents section 6 of article 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which details the rights and disabilities of members of Congress. The site discusses congressional pay, and privileges from arrest and of speech or debate in an...

A scholarly discussion of Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the executive branch of the U.S. government. Discusses the origin of the article and the debates on executive power that took place among the Founding...

Comprehensive overview of the U.S. Constitution. Places the Constitution in context with two other founding charters of American democracy and government, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Includes access to digital...

This resource provides the annotation on Section 2, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution., which outlines the President's responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief.

This resource shows the relationship between the Federal and State Courts as stated in Article III of the U.S. Constitution. This annotated text details issues like problems raised by concurrency, autonomy of state courts, and rules of...

This site provides a collection of material regarding the work of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. Content includes a focus on how the Revolutionary War was organized, fanning the flames of patriotism,...

Read Section 3 of Article II which explains what the President's duties are as Law Enforcer. The Constitution does not state that the President shall execute the laws himself, but that he will ensure that laws are "faithfully executed."

Lesson and activity in which students critique U.S. energy policy and its relationship to national security, then evaluate energy alternatives. Lesson includes article with background information, questions for discussion and...

Learning activity on the economic and political unification of Europe. Article outlines the history and reasons for a European Union. Includes questions for discussion followed by small group activity asking students to evaluate the idea...

When do the actions of one branch of the federal government unconstitutionally intrude upon the powers of another branch? This article surveys the history of this question in historic Supreme Court cases.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a children's book that translates the Constitution for kids. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

This resource discusses both the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the appellate jurisdiction of the lower federal courts. There are hypertext links to related materials.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Constitution of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text giving facts about the Constitution of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

This resource explains Clause 10 of Article I of the U.S. Constitution beginning with the origins of "Piracies, Felonies, and Offenses Against the Law of Nations." Further historical background as considered by the Constitutional...

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

This article uses specific court cases to show how the right to counsel at trial was developed into the present day standard.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Constitution of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Constitution Week and the three branches of government. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.

Activity comparing the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. Using a variety of articles, students research and create a chart with explanations and critical comparisons of the two governing documents.

From the National Archives and Records Administration site, this lesson, focusing on a poster circulated in Philadelphia in 1839 to discourage the coming of the railroad, relates to the struggle to define the powers of the national and...