This teacher's guide introduces secondary students to the study of constitutional government in the United States. It is designed to provide students with an understanding of how the Constitution came into existence, why it took the form it did, and how it has functioned for the past 200 years. Through the 31 lessons of the text, organized into six units, students examine the philosophical and historical forces that influenced the Founding Fathers; the writing, adoption and ratification of the Constitution; and a number of constitutional issues that have been important in the years since the Founding including judicial review, federalism, due process, equal protection, and the freedoms of speech and religion. The text is based on a conceptually oriented approach that blends expository and inquiry methods, both of which call for active participation by students throughout. The approach stresses the development of analytic and evaluative skills, which will enable students to apply basic substantive knowledge to a wide variety of political questions and controversies. The activities built into the lessons plans in the Teacher's Guide include directed discussions, debate, and simulations. Each of the 31 lessons contains a lesson overview, lesson objectives, teaching procedures, and optional activities. A number of student handouts also are included in the teacher's guide. The six lesson units are: political philosophy, history and experience, the Constitution, establishment of the government, fundamental rights, and responsibilities of the citizen. A reference section contains the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, a glossary of major terms and concepts, biographical notes, a list of important dates, and an index of Supreme Court cases. (DB)