Supreme Court allows Trump to deport Venezuelans under Alien Enemies Act, after judges’ review

The Framers of the Constitution had a rich intellectual foundation and long practical experience with representative legislatures from which to draw as they framed the new Constitution and founded a new nation. The Framers at the Constitutional Convention debated the principles of republican government, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances throughout the summer of 1787. They unanimously agreed that the government would be republican, or representative of the sovereign people, who gave their consent to form a government to protect their natural rights.

How are the republican principles of limited government, separation of powers, and checks and balances reflected in the U.S. Constitution?

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.

How did President Andrew Jackson’s National Bank veto reshape federal power in the United States? In this rapid-fire episode of BRI’s Primary Source Essentials, explore why Jackson opposed the National Bank and how his veto marked a pivotal moment in American history. Discover Jackson's arguments, including concerns about constitutionality, the creation of an economic aristocracy, foreign influence, and state versus federal authority. Learn how this decision shaped the future of federal power and set a precedent for presidential authority in interpreting the Constitution.

The “Great Writ” or habeas corpus has been an essential civil liberty guaranteed since Magna Carta. In listing powers denied to Congress, the Constitution notes that “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.” In 1861, Abraham Lincoln invoked this power of Congress—which was not in session—to suspend habeas corpus in certain areas. The next year, as he believed the civil justice system was inadequate to deal with the rebellion, he expanded the suspension throughout the United States and established military tribunals to try citizens charged with disloyalty. In this lesson, students explore Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus and constitutional issues surrounding it.

In 1974, Richard M. Nixon became the only President in US history to resign from the presidency. After administration operatives were caught breaking into the Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, DC, Nixon covered up the crime. A Congressional investigation produced a stunning revelation: The Oval Office had a recording system that taped all the President’s conversations. The tapes could prove whether Nixon himself had ordered the cover-up. The Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s claim that executive privilege allowed him to withhold the tapes. With members of his own Republican Party turning against him and the House drawing up impeachment charges that were sure to pass, Nixon resigned the presidency on August 9. The events raised serious questions about the definition, use, and abuse of executive authority.

What is the background history of immigration policy in the United States? Examine the philosophical origins, legal debates, and legal history from the Founding of the nation to the late 1900s. Give students tools to understand how American lawmakers have viewed immigrants and the reasoning behind the evolving nature of immigration policy.

What are the modern day debates on immigration and what are the consequences of the different proposals? Help students refine their research, writing, and presentations skills as well as gain an understanding of how to engage with civility in a discussion about a sensitive topic.

What is importance of immigration to the American story? Trace the history of immigration in the United States from its Founding to the first half of the twentieth century. Help students gain an understanding of the experience of immigrants in the 1800s, the factors that brought them to the United States, and the challenges they faced upon their arrival. Equip students to engage in the modern conversation on immigration in the United States.