Meaning of Constitution Archives - Page 10 of 16

The Story of the Bill of Rights

February 18, 2016 Anti-FederalistsdelegatesFederalistsindividual rightsratification

This documentary tells the story of these individual freedoms that often are taken for granted today. But in 1787, when they were first discussed at the Constitutional Convention, the Founding Fathers rejected them. Why were these rights controversial then? The full story about these rights, including what they say and what they mean, is explained. Ten short videos examine each of the amendments in the Bill of Rights.

A Conversation on Judicial Interpretation

February 18, 2016 Breyerconstitutional interpretationinterpretationjustices

Justices Stephen G. Breyer and Antonin Scalia and a group of students discuss the different theories, primarily Originalism vs. The Living Constitution, of how to interpret and apply the Constitution to cases. A PDF lesson guide accompanies this video

Our Constitution

February 18, 2016 constitutional interpretationtextbook

The Our Constitution book, written by Donald A. Ritchie and JusticeLearning.org, takes an in-depth look at the Constitution, annotated with detailed explanations of its terms and contents. Included are texts of primary source materials, sidebar material on each article and amendment, profiles of Supreme Court cases, and timelines. The complete book or individual chapters can be downloaded.

Our Rights

February 17, 2016 Civil Rights Actdeath penaltyEngel v. Vitaleequal protectionEscobedo v. Illinoisexclusionary rulefreedom of religionGideon v. WainwrightGriswold v. ConnecticutGuantanamohabeas corpusHamdi v. RumsfeldLoving v. VirginiaMapp v. OhioMinersville School District v. GobitisMiranda v. ArizonaMiranda warningPeople v. RichardsonPledge of AllegiancePlessy v. FergusonPowell v. AlabamaRoe v. WadeSchenck v. U.S.separation of church and stateShelley v. KraemerSheppard v. MaxwellslaverytextbookvotingWest Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette

The book Our Rights, written by David J. Bodenhamer, uses historical case studies to explore the rights in the Constitution. Supreme Court cases are used to demonstrate how a right received its modern interpretation, how the right applies today, and how courts and other interpreters seek to balance this right with important societal concerns such as public safety. The complete book or individual chapters can be downloaded.

The Pursuit of Justice

February 17, 2016 Abrams v. U.S.Baker v. CarrBrown v. Board of EducationBush v. Gorecommerce clauseDred ScottfederalismGibbons v. OgdenGriswold v. ConnecticutHirabayashi v. U.S.Japanese internmentjudicial reviewKorematsu v. U.S.Lemon v. KurtzmanLochner v. New YorkMarbury v. MadisonMcCulloch v. MarylandMinersville School District v. GobitisMiranda v. ArizonaMiranda warningMuller v. OregonNew York Times v. SullivanPlessy v. Fergusonpresidential powerpressprivacyReynolds v. SimsRoe v. WadeSchenck v. U.S.Scott v. Sandfordsegregationseparate but equalstates' rightsstudent rightstextbookTrumanUnited States v. NixonvotingWatergateWest Coast Hotel v. ParrishWest Virginia State Board of Education v. BarnetteYoungstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer

The Pursuit of Justice book, written by Kermit L. Hall and John J. Patrick, analyzes 30 Supreme Court cases chosen by a group of Supreme Court justices and leading civics educators as the most important for American citizens to understand. An additional 100 significant cases included in state history and civics standards are summarized. The complete book or individuals chapters can be downloaded.

The Reconstruction Amendments

February 17, 2016 Civil WarReconstructionReconstruction Amendments

How did the Constitution change during Reconstruction? This video lecture is part of a an online course called “Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases,” taught by University of Pennsylvania law professor Kermit Roosevelt III. The course explores these questions: Where does the Constitution come from? How has it changed over the years? How do we know what it means?

Exploring the United States Constitution eBook

February 16, 2016 federal governmentseparation of powerstextbook

Each chapter connects one or more of the billions of primary source documents in the holdings of the National Archives to the principles found in the United States Constitution. These documents exemplify the workings of the three branches of the federal government as laid out in our Constitution. This eBook is available as a Multi-Touch book for iPad and Mac on iTunes, or for PC, Android devices, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or eReader with Scribd.

Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution

February 16, 2016 compromisefederalismnational governmentpopular sovereigntyratificationRepublicseparation of powersthree branches

This lesson engages students in a study of the Constitution to learn the significance of “Six Big Ideas” contained in it. Students analyze the text of the Constitution in a variety of ways, examine primary sources to identify their relationship to its central ideas, and debate the core constitutional principles as they relate to today’s political issues. (Duration: 45-minute segments, up to 4.5 hours.)

The Constitution at Work

February 16, 2016 habeas corpusnominationratificationseparation of powers

In this online activity students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to determine their connection to the U.S. Constitution. Students will then make connections between the documents they have examined and the big ideas found within the Constitution.

Congress at Work: The Presidential Veto and Congressional Veto Override Process

February 16, 2016 checks and balancesseparation of powersthree branchesveto

Students will use a facsimile of a vetoed bill and veto message to understand the veto and veto override process in Congress. Referring to the Constitution, students will match the Constitution’s directions to the markings and language of the bill and veto message. Students will then investigate motives for using the veto and override powers, and how the powers reflect the Constitution’s checks and balances.

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