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Our free Constitution Courier newsletter helps teachers connect America’s Founding principles to students’ lives. Delivered directly to your inbox, each Courier includes historical content, connections to real life, classroom activities, downloadable PDFs, answer keys, discussion questions, and/or suggestions for further reading. Our 2 newsletter themes each come out once a month and cover a variety of topic areas to engage today’s students. Sign up for the Courier today, or read more about the most recent lessons below!
Bill of Rights in the News
The Bill of Rights in the News Constitution Courier focuses on issues making headlines that directly relate to the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. With current online news articles, discussion questions, and related links and resources, Bill of Rights in the News is a valuable teaching asset for government, history, or civics teachers. View past lessons.
Occupy Protests and the Bill of Rights
The Occupy protests began in New York City on September 17, 2011 and have spread across the country to Chicago, Nashville, Oakland, Washington, D.C., and many other cities. Many gatherings have been peaceful. In some areas, police have arrested protesters for trespassing, failing to disperse, breaking curfews, or not possessing the proper permits to assemble.. Continue reading the Occupy Protests and the Bill of Rights eLesson.
Current Events and the Constitution
There are many opportunities to analyze and discuss current events in light of our Founding documents. Current Events and the Constitution provides a framework for discussing current events in context with history. Each month, students will analyze how the Constitution applies to a specific issue and can be adapted to discuss events on the local, state, or national level. View past lessons.
The Federal Budget and the Constitution
The federal budget (or lack thereof) continues to make headlines. Congress holds, as some say, “the power of the purse.” The House of Representatives passed what was called a budget blueprint in April of 2011 which the Senate rejected, and budget debates have occupied members of Congress for months. Most recently, President Obama … Continue reading the Federal Budget and the Constitution eLesson.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases and the Constitution
Short historical narratives exploring the facts of the case, constitutional arguments on each side, analysis of the Court’s ruling, thought-provoking discussion questions, and suggested responses. View past lessons.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
This month we spotlight the landmark criminal procedure case Gideon v. Wainwright (1963). The man at the center of this case, Clarence Gideon, sent a handwritten petition to the Supreme Court challenging his conviction for breaking into a Florida pool hall. He argued that he did not have a fair trial because he had not been given a lawyer to help him with his defense. The Court held that the Sixth Amendment’s protection of the right to counsel meant that accused persons who cannot afford a lawyer must be provided one at public expense. Continue reading the Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) eLesson.
The Constitution and Religious Freedom
This eLesson explores the history and importance of religious liberty in the United States from the colonies to today. Focuses on historic individuals, landmark Supreme Court cases, student rights, and current issues related to this First Amendment protection. View pass lessons.
Religious Freedom and the American Founders
Today’s activities give you and your students a chance to test your knowledge of some important American statements on religious liberty.