All fighting does not have the legal and constitutional dimensions of a war. Presented is an activity to help secondary students learn about the constitutional and historical underpinnings involved in the age-old yet still current controversy concerning the war powers vested in the executive and legislative branches of government. (RM)

Since the passage of the Sedition Act in 1798, Congress has passed, during periods of grave national danger, legislation which appears to violate the first amendment. How the courts can justify these laws is the focus of case studies which can be used in secondary U.S. history classes. (RM)