Immigration and the Constitution eLesson Our latest eLesson is now available.  Sign up to have our eLessons emailed directly to you! “The land flourished because it was fed from so many sources–because it was nourished by so many cultures and traditions and peoples.” ― Lyndon B. Johnson The United States of America is a nation of immigrants. Read more…

Tax Day and the 16th Amendment Happy Tax Day! The celebratory tone might be a bit out of place, but from a constitutional perspective tax day, and the 16th Amendment which created it, are fascinating examples of politics in action. The 16th Amendment, which authorized the Federal Government to levy an income tax, was passed on Read more…

Join Our Team: Opportunities at the Institute Love the Bill of Rights Institutes’ resources and workshops? Want to help other teachers expand their knowledge of the Constitution and Founding documents? Join the Institute team today! We are looking for an entrepreneurial, creative, and driven educator who can help us plan and implement new teacher-related programs. Read more…

Unlocking your Cellphone: Property Rights in the Digital Age If there’s one gadget nearly impossible to live without in the 21st century, it’s the cellphone. Most of us keep one on us at all times, and a recent survey showed that, for a majority of 18-34 year olds, the hardest possession to live without would Read more…

Bill of Rights in the News: Gun Rights in the 21st Century In the wake of recent tragic shootings, there has been a significant revival of the debate over the Second Amendment and gun control. The debate, in broad generalities, is split between two sides. On one side are gun control advocates who believe that Read more…

Inauguration Day 2013 The official start of President Obama’s second term is fast approaching. Learn more about the history and meaning of Inauguration Day with this lesson packed with engaging and informative resources! Test your knowledge of the countdown to Inauguration Day, analyze the Oath of Office, identify inaugural speeches from American history, and think Read more…

Current Events and the Constitution: Supreme Court Roundup The 2012 – 2013 Supreme Court term is in full swing, and there are are many cases that deal with important questions of constitutional law on the docket. Use the following resources and discussion questions to analyze and discuss the issues with your students. Explore these and Read more…

Bill of Rights in the News: Searching for the Fourth Amendment The steady march of science and technology has a way of bringing settled law into new areas, challenging what was once convention. An upcoming court case involves just such a predicament – whether or not the government can search your laptop or cell phone Read more…

Fire in a Crowded Theater – The Origins of a Limit on Free Speech In discussions of the First Amendment and the limits of free speech, it is common to hear references to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’s famous quote from Schenck v. U.S. 1919 – “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect Read more…

Bill of Frights – Plea Bargaining What could be more frightening than violations of our constitutional rights? But is everything that appears to be a violation actually one? Join us as we explore some current constitutional issues. We hope you enjoy our Bill of Frights! When accused of a crime, every citizen possesses the right Read more…