Designed to extend Law Day's impact, this program gives lawyers, judges, and other community leaders the opportunity to teach important lessons about the United States Constitution and the federal government. It is intended to stimulate opportunities for students to reflect on the country's constitutional heritage and gain appreciation for the…

This book explores the lives of people who have shaped the laws and legal system of the United States and describes their impact on the U.S. Constitution. The new government's beginnings are examined in unit 1, through the pitfalls and triumphs of the First Continental Congress. The role of John Marshall, the First Chief Justice of the Supreme…

In relation to law enforcement and the courts, the press serves to inform the public about crimes and how government institutions deal with them. The press also plays a crucial role in assuring that the rights of individuals guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment are protected. The issue of prejudice, caused by news coverage of crime and criminal…

Presented in this document are a student's study guide and an accompanying teacher's manual. The purpose of the study guide is to present information on (1) what the U.S. Constitution means, (2) how the U.S. government is organized, (3) why the Constitution is a living document, and (4) why the Constitution is a source of pride for U.S. citizens.…

Provides a list of 23 activities which demonstrate how constitutional issues and law are manifested in current events. Maintains that the activities help students gain a working knowledge of the U.S. Constitution in addition to seeing it as a relevant, living document which inspires critical and creative thinking. (JDH)

Offers a lesson plan for teaching upper elementary and middle school students about the First Amendment. The lesson begins by inviting students to censor government criticism in the local newspaper and may be expanded to include an introduction to the Bill of Rights. (JDH)

Offers a lesson in which students examine the issue of mandatory drug and alcohol testing in public schools. Students develop a policy for their own school after considering a hypothetical policy statement and attendant legal issues. (JDH)

This lesson presents an overview of the U. S. Constitution's provision of impeachment as the method for removing the president, vice president, federal judges, and other federal officials from office. The lesson outlines and discusses the impeachment process. It also offers historical background on the framing of the Constitution and on Presidents…

This lesson presents the historical background of Abraham Lincoln's selection of Andrew Johnson as his running mate in the election of 1864. The lesson considers the climate in the U.S. Congress after President Lincoln's assassination. The details of the impeachment and trial of President Andrew Johnson are given. The lesson presents three…

Reviews 10 resources on First Amendment issues and related social studies topics available from the Educational Resource Information Center (ERIC). Presents information pertinent both to the classroom teacher and to school administrators concerned about First Amendment issues. Gives annotated bibliographical information. (CH)

Provides a moot court activity in which secondary students re-enact the U.S. Supreme Court case "California v. Greenwood," concerning the exclusionary rule and the privacy of a citizen's trash. Students role-play Supreme Court justices and attorneys to gain an understanding of how appellate courts operate. (LS)

Presents the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. Provides teaching suggestions, a review quiz, and includes the five points of the Miranda Warning. (CFR)

Explores the court structure in the United States and Canada. Explains the consequences of a dual or integrated system and why Canadians are adopting the U.S. system. (DB)

This document consists of one volume (3 issues) of a serial devoted to law-related education (LRE) that offers background information on a wide range of legal issues with teaching strategies for LRE. The themes for the issues include: (1) character education; (2) conflict resolution; and (3) the 1996 election. Each issue proposes teaching methods…

The lessons in this volume, written by experienced Georgia teachers with backgrounds in law-related education, were designed for teachers new to this area of the social studies curriculum. The lessons, which are organized by grade level, include the following information: author, time required, concepts/vocabulary, main ideas, instructional…