Constitutional law is a good way to introduce students to fundamental debates over means and ends, over what means work and at what costs, and over what ends are not merely desirable, but may be legitimately achieved even through the application of collective force. It also offers an exciting way to teach logic. (MLW)

If students are to understand the American Constitution, they must, like the Founders, take political philosophy seriously. Books and essays that college teachers can use to teach about the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are discussed. (RM)

In 1964, Congress passed Public Law 82-352. This civil rights act forbade hiring, promoting, and firing discrimination based on sex or race. Title VII of the act created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to implement the law. Subsequent legislation expanded the role of the EEOC. Today, the EEOC enforces laws that prohibit…

This lesson focuses on the role of the Electoral College in the election of the President and Vice-President as specified in the U.S. Constitution in Article II, Section 1, Clauses 2 and 4, and the Twelfth Amendment. The lesson correlates to the National History Standards and the National Standards for Civics and Government. The tally of the 1824…

This issue of "Bill of Rights in Action" looks at individuals who have stood on principle against authority or popular opinion. The first article investigates John Adams and his defense of British soldiers at the Boston Massacre trials. The second article explores Archbishop Thomas Becket's fatal conflict with England's King Henry II.…

Illustrates how the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution provides an opportunity to teach about the broader concept of constitutionalism through study of the state constitutions. Presents an argument for teaching about state constitutions, their role in the federal system, and the values they convey. (LS)

Describes learning activities based on the U.S. Constitution that enhance higher level thinking skills in elementary students. One activity proposes a hypothetical constitutional amendment banning Saturday cartoons; a second taxes children's earnings; and other activities focus on dramatizing events surrounding the Constitutional Convention. (LS)

Reviews the constitutions of several western states that provide an absolute barrier between religion and public education. Asserts that these laws were passed after the Civil War when concern about minority religious influence in some states was high. Maintains that these state laws may be the next battleground in the ongoing controversy about…

Discusses the major milestones in the battle for voting rights focusing on the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th Amendments and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Considers the future role of direct voting, specifically initiatives and referendums, and questions whether initiatives and referendums will encourage voter turnout. (CMK)

This article discusses the constitutional amendment process. Although the process is not described in great detail, Article V of the United States Constitution allows for and provides instruction on amending the Constitution. While the amendment process currently consists of six steps, the Constitution is nevertheless quite difficult to change.…

This book provides a detailed account of the role of the state of New York in the history and development of the United States Constitution. The document consists of some 68 essays, in addition to a foreword, editors' introduction, and chronology of bicentennial dates. Part 1, "Origins of Constitutionalism in New York," addresses such…

This book of essays connects controversies over rights and liberties today to their historical antecedents while explaining how social, political, and cultural changes have influenced understandings of specific provisions of the Bill of Rights. Written for teachers using a collaborative effort, each essay is accompanied by bibliographic…

Students should achieve a higher level of understanding and appreciation of the evolving nature of the U.S. Constitution and its relevance to contemporary societal issues by studying historical documents from the period of time between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. This document begins with a history of that period and of the…

The key to a successful field trip is planning. This publication, designed to provide guidelines for elementary school teachers, outlines the step-by-step experience of a participatory visit to Montpelier, the home of James Madison. A prefatory article by constitutional authority A. E. Dick Howard, called "James Madison and the…

During the past 150 years U.S. courts have demonstrated a special protectiveness toward academics and academic institutions. Academic freedom was not a concern when the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment were drafted and is not mentioned in the "Federalist Papers." However, decisions by a series of Supreme Court justices led to…