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Introduction to Unit 6: Political Participation and Elections, featuring a government building background.
Document showcasing the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States on a parchment background.
Image of a historical document and a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, discussing political institutions and social justice.
Document titled "Simulating Popular Sovereignty" discussing a town council proposal for a new sports complex.

Government & Politics Unit 6 – Activities + Essays

44 items

Introduction to Unit 6: Political Participation and Elections, featuring a government building background.
Political Participation and Elections | Government & Politics: Civics for the American Experiment
Video

Video

4 Min

What happens when young people step up to shape their communities, states, and nation? In this video, discover the vital role civic engagement plays in a self-governing society—and how individuals of all ages can make a difference, even before they’re eligible to vote. Explore how participating in local boards, volunteering, communicating with representatives, and practicing civic virtues like responsibility and justice strengthen our constitutional republic. From town halls to national campaigns, your actions help uphold the promise of “We the People.”
4 Min
Document showcasing the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States on a parchment background.
Preamble to the Constitution
Activity

Activity

The text of the preamble to the Constitution and corresponding comprehension questions.
Image of a historical document and a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, discussing political institutions and social justice.
The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions
Activity

Activity

Help students understand why the rule of law is essential in a free society and the role individual citizens play in maintaining a self-governing society and institutions.
Document titled "Simulating Popular Sovereignty" discussing a town council proposal for a new sports complex.
Simulating Popular Sovereignty Handout
Activity

Activity

How can a community balance diverse needs and interests to achieve a solution that reflects the will of “We the People?”
Text from a document titled "The History of Political Parties in the United States" with paragraph content.
The History of Political Parties in the United States
Essay - 1248 Words

Essay

1248 Words

Explore the history of political parties from the Founding Era to modern day.
Text from an historical document discussing governance, factions, and civil rights for citizens.
Federalist 10
Activity

Activity

Why did the Framers believe a large republic would create a stable and lasting government that protected against the violence of faction?
Table outlining analysis questions related to the Republican Party platform and founding principles.
Political Parties Research Activity
Activity

Activity

Explore the modern and historical political parties to understand their foundational positions, key policies, and roles in American politics.
Table comparing campaign finance legislation and Supreme Court decisions, including key legislation, goals, and outcomes.
Campaign Finance Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

Help students explain how the financing of national political campaigns affects the election process.
Political Action Committee handout outlining definitions and differences between PACs and SuperPACs.
PACs and SuperPACs Handout
Activity

Activity

Text excerpt from the Supreme Court opinion in Citizens United v. FEC (2010) by Justice Kennedy.
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
Activity

Activity

The Supreme Court case Citizens United v. FEC (2010) serves as the primary source for this case study, providing a pivotal ruling on campaign finance and the role of money in elections.
Text from a case study titled "Campaign Finance" discussing election funding in the United States.
Campaign Finance Case Study
Essay - 619 Words

Essay

619 Words

Examine the the role of money in American politics. 
Infographic illustrating the organizational structure of U.S. political parties with roles and committees at various levels.
The Organization of U.S. Political Parties
Activity

Activity

Graphic that helps students see the structual oranization of policitical parties.
Image of the Supreme Court justices with text "Baker v. Carr" and "Supreme Court Homework Help" over an orange background.
Baker v. Carr | Homework Help from the Bill of Rights
Video

Video

5 Min

In this Homework Help video, learn the story of the landmark Supreme Court case of Baker v. Carr. The case explores the question of a state’s right to control electoral lines otherwise known as gerrymandering. The case ruling concluded that the Supreme Court could hear cases pertaining to redistricting because of the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment through the process of incorporation which argues that states must adhere to the protections of guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. How did the ruling in this case contribute to the democratic principle of “one person-one vote”?
5 Min
The video discusses the origins of partisanship in American politics, featuring animated historical figures.
The Origins of Partisanship | BRI’s Homework Help Series
Video

Video

5 Min

This latest installment of our Homework Help Institute of History series addresses the origins of partisanship in the United States. In the late 18th Century, the new nation was at risk of being torn apart as factions developed between Federalists and Anti-Federalists whose differences over the nature and structure of the new government played out in pamphlets, newspaper essays, state ratifying conventions, in taverns, and on street corners. Some compromise was reached with the ratification of The Bill of Rights, but differences over policy continued to play out among factions and the Federalists and Democratic-Republican parties formed. This video is intended as a general overview of this period of U.S. History, and a springboard for a deeper exploration of the various political disputes of the late 1700s and early 1800s.
5 Min
Black and white portrait of a man in a suit standing beside a large column.
Speaker Joseph Cannon Dethroned
Essay - 2281 Words

Essay

2281 Words

By the end of this section, you will compare the goals and effects of the Progressive reform movement.
Text discussing the history of voting restrictions and expanding suffrage in the United States.
The History of Voting Restrictions and Expanding Suffrage
Essay - 1098 Words

Essay

1098 Words

Explore the expansion of franchise and suffrage movements from the Colonial Era to Barack Obama.
Title slide for "Unit 6: Election Essentials" from the Bill of Rights Institute, featuring a government building background.
Elections Essentials | Government & Politics: Civics for the American Experiment
Video

Video

4 Min

What happens when citizens understand their voting power and engage in the democratic process? In this video, explore the evolution of voting rights in the United States and discover what motivates people to cast their ballots—and why that matters. From the amendments that expanded suffrage to the psychological and structural factors that affect voter behavior, this video explains how elections work and why participation is key. Learn about the Electoral College, congressional elections, and what influences voter turnout.
4 Min
Text of the Twenty-Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding voting rights for District of Columbia residents.
Voting Rights Amendments to the Constitution
Activity

Activity

A primary source analysis of the various amendments to the Constitution that have expanded access to voting.
Document outlining the role of state governments in elections, featuring the U.S. Constitution from 1787.
Elections and the Constitution
Activity

Activity

The text of the Constitution and corresponding analysis questions that explore it's provisions for elections.
Line graph depicting U.S. presidential and midterm election turnout rates from 1789 to the present.
Voter Turnout in Midterm and General Elections
Activity

Activity

Five graphs that illustrate about how demographics can affect voter turnout.
A timeline with events related to voting rights and the U.S. Constitution, including dates and brief descriptions.
Voting Rights Timeline
Activity

Activity

A history of voting rights from the ratification of the Constitution through World War II and corresponding analysis questions.
A table comparing statements about federalism, elections, and political party nominations.
Primary and Caucus: Fact, Choice, Defend
Activity

Activity

Learn about primary and caucus features while deciding and defending if they should stay or go.
Decorative image.
Electoral College Case Study
Essay - 959 Words

Essay

959 Words

Examine the history and controversy surrounding the Electoral College, analyzing its evolution and impact through key elections such as 1800, 1824, and 2000.
Student handout for "Electing a President" with sections on primaries and the Electoral College.
Electing a President Station Activity
Activity

Activity

A station based activity to showcase the steps of a US presidential election.
An excerpt from Federalist #10 discussing the dangers of factions in a free society with vocabulary definitions.
Federalist 10 | Politics and Parties
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Activity

A primary source to explore the dangers of factions and how the Constitution was designed to limit their powers.
Decorative image.
Methods of Election Student Handout
Activity

Activity

What are the differences between the popular vote and the Electoral College vote?
Text from a primary source on Electoral College from Federalist #39, authored by James Madison, 1788.
Electoral College Primary Sources
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Activity

Analyzes the Electoral College through primary sources, including Madison's Federalist #39, Article II of the Constitution, and the Twelfth Amendment.
Graphic organizer for researching the expansion of voting rights, including prompts and sections for amendments and legislation.
Expanding Franchise Graphic Organizer:
Activity

Activity

An activity to help students explain how voting rights have been expanded through the Constitution and legislation.
A text-based graphic discussing the Voting Rights Act, its impact, and related questions on justice for African Americans.
Voting Rights Act, 1965
Activity

Activity

Text document titled "Primary Source (Scaffolded)" discussing Reconstruction Amendments and related questions.
The Reconstruction Amendments: Thirteenth Amendment, 1865, Fourteenth Amendment, 1868, and Fifteenth Amendment, 1870
Activity

Activity

The Electoral College video thumbnail from BRI's Homework Help Series featuring historical figures.
The Electoral College | Homework Help from the Bill of Rights Institute
Video

Video

7 Min

In this Homework Help narrative, learn about the origins and functions of the Electoral College. This constitutional institution has long been the subject of intense debate and scrutiny, and this video challenges students to think about it for themselves.
7 Min
A portrait of Alexis de Tocqueville accompanied by text about his work and insights in "Democracy in America."
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Book One, Part Two, Chapter Two
Activity

Activity

Excerpted text of Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" with corresponding comprehension questions.
Table outlining objectives, vocabulary, and building context for Federalist #51, discussing governance and majority rule.
Federalist 51 | Interest Groups at Work
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Activity

A look at this primary source that explores how a large country helps prevent a single tyrannical majority from forming.
Infographic comparing small and large republics in relation to the problem of factions in Federalist #10.
Federalist #10 Sphere of Influence
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Activity

An interactive that engages students with the problems of factions and how the Constitution was designed to limit their powers.
Infographic for interest group analysis with guiding questions, objectives, and chart for data collection.
Graphic Organizer: Interest Group Analysis
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Activity

A discovery activity to help students how various interest groups influence civil society.
Infographic outlining action steps for interest groups to influence government decisions and policies.
Interest Groups Analysis
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Activity

An interactive activity that defines the way interest groups work to pass legislation.
Text from a document titled "Nixon-Kennedy Televised Debate" with historical context about the event.
Nixon-Kennedy Televised Debate
Essay - 567 Words

Essay

567 Words

Help students understand the role of media in the 1960 presidential debate between Nixon and Kennedy.
Infographic analyzing the impact of media technology on presidential campaigns and voter engagement through history.
Media Technology and Candidate-Centered Campaigns Primary Sources
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Activity

Three primary sources showcase how media technology, from television ads like Eisenhower's "I Like Ike" to Clinton's appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show and Trump's Twitter usage, have been pivotal in shaping presidential candidates' public images and connecting directly with voters.
Text on a document discussing watchdog reporting and the role of media in government accountability.
Watchdog Reporting Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

An activity to help students explore how the media serves as a watch dog, holding the government accountable.
Graphic organizer outlining media's limitations and benefits, guiding questions, and objectives for analysis and discussion.
Media Limitations and Benefits Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

Help students analyze how different news media and communication outlets influence the dissemination of political information.
The image features a document titled "Media Source Analysis and Reflection" with guiding questions and objectives listed.
Media Source Analysis and Reflection
Activity

Activity

The sources that guide students understanding on ​how news ​media and communication outlets influence the dissemination of political information.
A document outlining how news media presents information using a basketball example with objectives and presentation styles.
Information Presentation Example Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

An activity to engage students with the ideas surrounding how the media presents information and how it affects how people participate and interact.
A table with three columns titled "Coverage," "Analysis," and "Commentary," each containing space for information.
Information Presentation Blank Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

An activity to engage students with the ideas surrounding how the media presents information and how it affects how people participate and interact.
Image of the Supreme Court building with text: "Citizen United v. Federal Election Commission" and "Bill of Rights Institute."
Citizens United v. FEC | BRI’s Homework Help Series
Video

Video

4 Min

Citizens United v. FEC was a Supreme Court case surrounding campaign finance and corporate involvement in politics. The Federal Election Commission was created in 1971 and greatly regulated the amount of campaign finance political candidates were able to receive. By 2002, the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act) restricted organizations from financing issue-based advertisements on behalf of candidates. Citizens United released a million dollar ad against Hillary Clinton. Before the film aired, Citizens United challenged the McCain-Feingold Act, stating that money was a form of Free Speech, which is protected by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled the McCain-Feingold Act as unconstitutional, but stated that corporations still cannot give money directly to political candidates.
4 Min