This master's thesis synthesizes literature on the teaching of the United States Constitution, analyzes the Supreme Court case of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens, 1990, and provides lesson plans for teaching the constitutional significance of this case. The thesis argues that because of the poor quality of textbooks and the inadequate…

The debate among scholars on the historical and contemporary significance of the Founding period of the United States still continues and important questions still need to be addressed. The extent to which current judicial decisions should be governed by the intentions of the Framers, and whether contemporary historical approaches tend to…

A comparative study of constitutions and governments in world history is a key to deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution. While many countries have constitutions, the United States is among a minority of nations in today's world that has a constitutional government. Many nations' constitutions truly guarantee few protections of individual…

The document describes the establishment, development, procedures, and some landmark cases of the U.S. Supreme Court. The objective is to explore the history of the court and to explain its role in the American system of government. The booklet is presented in four chapters. The first chapter, entitled "A Heritage of Law," offers…

Freedom of the press and the extent of constraints upon that freedom are examined. Some recent Supreme Court rulings are discussed. (RM)

By studying constitutional law, students learn about the relationship between democratic theory and practice, one of the main concerns of liberal education. The mind is enlarged when it must apply ethical standards and political ideas to real human problems. How a political science professor teaches constitutional law is discussed. (RM)

Government and ethics teachers should educate students in the "wholesale sanity" of American democracy. In particular they should (1) identify and defend the principles of the American constitutional order, (2) criticize government actions departing from these principles, and (3) seek means by which to correct for these departures. (RM)

Featuring a mock trial tested in the District of Columbia, the objective of this manual is to help students learn more about the constitutional guarantee of trial by jury. Prepared as five separate lessons, the manual examines one alternative to the jury system--trial by ordeal; traces the development of the guarantee of trial by jury; explores…

This teacher's guide presents effective strategies to implement the "Foundations of Democracy" textbook, which introduces four concepts basic to the United States Constitution: authority, privacy, responsibility, and justice. The guide explains that the success of citizenship education programs depends on extensive interaction among…

This ERIC digest presents a rationale for teaching students about their rights and responsibilities as citizens under the U.S. Constitution. Social studies teachers have a special role in shaping the lives of young citizens and influencing whether students become politically involved adults. Specific constitutional rights such as the right of a…

Since 1789, the Supreme Court has been making decisions that affect all U.S. citizens. The study of Supreme Court cases, therefore, should be an integral part of civic education. This ERIC Digest discusses: (1) constitutional issues and Supreme Court cases that should be taught; and (2) effective strategies for teaching them. It also includes a…

This issue of "this Constitution" is devoted to commemorating the bicentennial of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. Materials include: "A Chronology of Civil Liberties and Civil Rights in the United States" (Herman Belz); "Constitutional Power to Enforce Individual Rights: The Legacy of McCulloch v.…

This document consists of lesson plans for teaching junior high school students about the U.S. Constitution. Lessons are derived from teaching methods that instructors have found useful and appropriate for the actual condition of the ordinary classroom, and account for the characteristics and needs of the early adolescent. The document includes a…

Issued by the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, this collection of instructional materials is designed to help teach about the United States Constitution. The documents include: "Plant a Living Legacy"; "Teaching Guide to Accompany United States Presidents, 1789-1989"; "Skills Handbook: 200…

Designed to provide elementary teachers with practical materials for the study of the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the U.S. Constitution, each of the 10 lessons provided in the unit includes objectives, materials, procedure, and answer keys where needed. The 10 lessons are: (1) The Bill of Rights; (2) Amending the Constitution; (3)…