Discusses the history of the following movements' attitudes towards the Constitution: (1) abolition; (2) feminism; (3) trade unions; (4) socialism and communism; and (5) civil rights and anti-war. Maintains that the tensions in these movements' towards the Constitution represent basic contradictions in the document itself. (PS)

Discusses the agenda of the five-year bicentennial celebration of the U.S. Constitution. Emphasizes the importance of teacher planning, education, and enthusiasm to the success of the program. Stresses the need for making students aware of the constitutional legacy of the United States. (GEA)

Contains three essays on civic responsibility and the two-year college's role in civic education. Includes "Warren Burger and the Power of the Constitution," an interview with Burger by Dale Parnell; "Educating for Citizenship," by Herbert M. Atherton; and "Sustaining the Nation's Commitment to Civic Responsibility,"…

Describes eight resources for teaching about the United States Constitution available from ERIC. Described are instructional materials for junior and senior high school students on such topics as (1) the role of the U.S. Supreme Court, (2) freedom of the press, (3) the history of the United States Constitution, and (4) problems of the…

Discusses the positions of Federalists and Anti-Federalists on the concept of executive power during the drafting of the Constitution and subsequent ratification debates. Issues include selection, tenure, and power. Maintains the Anti-Federalist arguments were weak and unconvincing, but that the Founders had an unclear notion of balanced…

A course on the Constitution should help students see that the Constitution is not a document that provides solutions to problems, but a document that helps individuals come to a fuller understanding of contemporary problems by exposing them to the intellectual foundations and historical dimensions of the issues. (RM)

When George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789, the U.S. Constitution had already been ratified, yet the future of the new country was at risk. Some people wanted a bill of rights added to the U.S. Constitution to guarantee individual liberties. Two groups opposed each other--the Federalists…

The year 2003 marks the bicentennial of the 1803 Treaty of France, by which the United States of America acquired the Louisiana Territory, an area of more than 828,000 square miles. Upon this acquisition, known as the Louisiana Purchase, the territory of the United States doubled. Historians consider the Louisiana Purchase to be a landmark event…

In 1893, in just 184 days, 28 million people, about one-third of the U.S. population, visited the World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago (Illinois). This lesson focuses on petitioning the federal government, peaceably assembling, and exercising freedom of speech and religion, all of which are protected by the First Amendment to the U.S.…

Contends that "The Federalist" has been an intellectual beacon for the U.S. Constitution since it was written in 1787. Presents a secondary school lesson plan that focuses on the Constitution's ratification process, particularly the development of and campaign for the Bill of Rights. (CFR)

Presents seven annotations from documents found in the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database about the U.S. Constitution that are appropriate for secondary and higher education students. Documents include mock dialogues, teaching with documents, and a discussion on the impact of the U.S. Constitution bicentennial on teaching.…

Says political writings such as "The Federalist" have generated multiple interpretations and the framers assumptions must be deduced. Provides a typology for such interpretations based on the terms, antidemocratic, liberal, republican, and constitutionalist. Recommends students be taught about the lack of consensus among scholars and key…

Compares the impeachment proceedings in the trials of Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton. Categorizes an impeachable offense as one that threatens the safety of the country, either as treason or bribery. Asserts that President Clinton did not violate the Constitution and therefore should not have been impeached. (CMK)

The 17 essays included in this book are designed to provide educators and other interested readers with contemporary perspectives on a broad range of themes and topics concerning the U.S. Constitution. The authors are a distinguished group of historians, political scientists, legal scholars, and jurists. The essays include: "The Achievement…

This collection of lesson plans presents ideas for educators and persons in the law and justice community to teach young people about the Bill of Rights. The lesson plans are: "Mindwalk: An Introduction to the Law or How the Bill of Rights Affects Our Lives"; "Bill of Rights Bingo"; "The Classroom 'Constitutional…