Examples of Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt disagreeing with the United States Supreme Court.
How executive orders have been used by presidents to expand their powers beyond those explicitly listed in Article II of the US Constitution.
From Federalist No. 70 to the 22nd Amendment and Arthur Schlesinger's "Imperial Presidency," a discussion of expansion and checks on presidential power.
Federal and state powers and the 10th and 14th amendments.
Federalism in the United States. Exclusive and concurrent federal and state powers.
Part 2 of a close reading of excerpts of Federalist No. 10 where Madison makes the case that the type of large republic constructed by the Constitution of 1787 is favorable to any other form.
A deep dive into the Fifth Amendment, which requires the government to follow due process of law and includes protections for citizens against self-incrimination and double jeopardy. In this video, Kim discusses the Fifth Amendment with scholars Donald Dripps and Stephen Saltzburg.
The takings clause of the Fifth Amendment prevents the government from taking private property for public use without just compensation. But what counts as private property, public use, or just compensation? In this video, Kim discusses the takings clause with scholars Richard Epstein and Eduard Peñalver.
A deep dive into the First Amendment, which guarantees US citizens freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly. In this video, Kim discusses the First Amendment with scholars Erwin Chemerinsky and Michael McConnell.
Formal and informal powers of the US president.
An overview of The Fourteenth Amendment and equal protection.
A deep dive into the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. In this video, Kim discusses the Fourth Amendment with scholars Orin Kerr and Tracey Meares.
This unit asks students to consider the permissible restrictions schools can place on students’ freedom of speech, as they learn about the (fictional, but realistic) case of Davis v. Ann Arbor School Board. Students will either conduct a mock negotiation in which they will try to resolve a First Amendment-related conflict between a student and his public high school, or a mock argument in which they will argue for one side in front of a panel of student judges.
This Unit contains 9 lessons:
Lesson 1: Are schools permitted to limit students’ First Amendment freedom of speech?
Lesson 2: Under what circumstances may a school punish student speech?
Lesson 3: How does the law apply to our case?
Lesson 4: What are the key elements of negotiation?
Lesson 5: How can parties use negotiation to achieve the best solution?
Lesson 6: Is negotiation an effective tool in the legal process?
Lesson 7: What is a mock argument?
Lesson 8: How do I prepare for a mock argument?
Lesson 9: How do attorneys conduct oral arguments to advocate for their clients?
Through most of U.S. history, women had limited access to educational programs and extracurricular activities. Most women were excluded from elite academic institutions, and those schools that accepted female applicants required them to have higher test scores and grades than their male counterparts. In the 1960s and 1970s, civil rights activists advocated for federal enforcement of equal opportunities for male and female students. In response, Congress enacted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This unit asks students to consider the scope and application of Title IX through the examination of statutory text, federal regulations, enforcement policies, and court decisions. Students are guided to confront questions about how the provisions of Title IX ensure nondiscrimination on the basis of gender, and to think about what sex equality means across different contexts.
This unit contains 5 lessons:
Lesson 1: Conceptualizing Equality and Non-Discrimination
Lesson 2: Analyzing Title IX and Athletics
Lesson 3: Applying Title IX Beyond Sports
Lesson 4: Applying Title IX
Lesson 5: Reshaping Title IX
An overview of Generational and lifecycle effects on political ideology.
Kibera, a poor community, in Nairobi, was a blank spot on the map until recently. This video from Penn State Public Broadcasting’s Geospatial Revolution shows how geospatial technology enabled residents to map resources to help their community.
Gerrymandering and its history.
Not only do revenue legislation and impeachment proceeding start in the House, but the House is also more more hierarchical and efficient than the Senate.
How a bill becomes a law in the US Congress. Focus on the role of committees.
John Dickerson discusses Ronald Reagan's policies and explains how those policies affected the government and economy. John Dickerson is co-host of CBS This Morning. He was previously CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent, Political Director and anchor of Face The Nation. Dickerson is also a contributor to Slate's Political Gabfest and to The Atlantic. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Dickerson moderated CBS News' two presidential debates. Prior to CBS, Dickerson was Slate Magazine's Chief Political correspondent and covered politics for twelve years for Time magazine.