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.
Congress at Work: The Legislative Process
Students will analyze documents created by Congress to identify steps in the legislative process.
Constitutional Index – Sundays Excepted Clause
The Constitutional Index breaks down the U.S. Constitution by Section, Amendment, and Clause and contains broader topics and themes. These are used to cross-reference Library resources in an effort to annotate constitutional history.
Rasul v. Bush (2004)
Do U.S. courts have jurisdiction to consider legal appeals filed on behalf of foreign citizens held at Guantanamo? This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered this question in 2004.
Constitution Day Across the Country
Various free, downloadable lessons across grades K through 12 to facilitate providing educational programs on Constitution Day. These interactive lessons teach about the development and evolution of the U.S. Constitution. Students are able to express themselves through discussion and debates while engaging in various activities.
Rumsfeld v. Padilla (2004)
Do the president’s powers enable him to seize and detain a U.S. citizen based on the president’s resolve that he is an “enemy combatant?” This case summary shows how the Supreme Court answered that question in 2004.
James Madison Lesson 2: The Second National Bank—Powers Not Specified in the Constitution
In this lesson, students examine the First and Second National Banks and whether or not such a bank’s powers are constitutional or unconstitutional.
How should the Constitution be applied to situations not specified in the text? How can balance be achieved between the power of the states and that of the federal government? How can a balance of power be achieved among the three branches of the federal government? In this lesson, Madison’s words will help students understand the constitutional issues involved in some controversies that arose during Madison’s presidency.
James Madison Lesson 3: Raising an Army: Balancing the Power of the States and the Federal Government
Not everyone in the U.S. supported the War of 1812. What events during Madison’s presidency raised constitutional questions? What were the constitutional issues? Where did Madison stand?
James Madison Lesson 4: Internal Improvements Balancing Act: Federal/State, Executive/Legislative
There was general agreement at the beginning of the 19th century that the U.S. would greatly benefit from some internal improvements of a national nature, such as a nationwide network of roads and canals. But how should the funds for such projects be raised? Who should be in control of the projects—that is, who should administer them?
Balancing Three Branches at Once: Our System of Checks and Balances
Using primary source documents, your students can see clear demonstrations of how one branch of our government can check another, and when it should.