Use this site to learn all about this Supreme Court decision that dealt with interstate commerce. View an image of the original document and read the complete text.

American Government is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of the single-semester American government course. This title includes innovative features designed to enhance student learning, including Insider Perspective features and a Get Connected Module that shows students how they can get engaged in the political process. The book provides an important opportunity for students to learn the core concepts of American government and understand how those concepts apply to their lives and the world around them. American Government includes updated information on the 2016 presidential election.Senior Contributing AuthorsGlen Krutz (Content Lead), University of OklahomaSylvie Waskiewicz, PhD (Lead Editor)

Essay describing the attempts of Salmon Chase, the Supreme Court Chief Justice, to ensure that President Andrew Johnson received fair treatment at his impeachment trial in 1868.

Although the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, its interpretation is open to many opinions, causing great controversies. Students can read the Constitution as well as the many issues that surround the document. If that proves to be a bit dry, play Constitutional Trivia or Bill of Rights Golf. There are links to Supreme Court cases that include study questions and even a "Supreme Court Humor Page."

Discover how the executive and legislative branches of government as well as the public have reacted to Supreme Court decisions. Larry Kramer, Dean at Stanford Law School, walks his audience through this complex history. [19:02]

Presenters Jack Rakove and Sandra Day O'Connor discuss the creation of the judicial system in this video. The Founding Fathers collaborated at the Constitutional Convention to ensure that the rights of citizens would be protected by the new government. O'Connor also stresses the importance of understanding the foundation of our Constitution. [1:10:38]

This slide and the six that follow it (use the advance button near the bottom of the screen) offer an explanation of each of the three branches of government and the duties they perform, including discussion of the tensions arising from "shared" powers. Written as a unit for middle school, it provides a straightforward view that is useful for upper grades as well. Includes questions for students as they progress through the material.

When John Marshall was appointed chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1801, the nation's highest court occupied a lowly position. There was no Supreme Court Building in the newly completed capital, Washington, D.C., so the six justices heard cases in a borrowed room in the basement of the Capitol Building. Their docket averaged 10 cases a year, mostly about shipping disputes. Over the course of Marshall's 34-year tenure as chief justice -- spanning six presidential administrations. The Supreme Court grew in prominence and power to become a true co-equal to the executive and legislative branches.

If James Madison was the "father" of the Constitution," John Marshall was the "father of the Supreme Court""”almost single-handedly clarifying its powers. This new lesson is designed to help students understand Marshall's brilliant strategy in issuing his decision on Marbury v. Madison, the significance of the concept of judicial review, and the language of this watershed case.

This is a full unit of study from iCivics, featuring multiple lesson plans with presentations, downloadable documents, and more. This library of mini-lessons targets a variety of landmark cases from the United States Supreme Court. Each mini-lesson includes a one-page reading and a one-page activity, and is appropriate for a variety of uses. Unlike the iCivics lesson plans, these mini-lessons are designed for students to complete independently without the need for teacher direction. However, they also make great teacher-directed lessons or even class conversation-starters, and multiple mini-lessons can be combined to make a longer lesson.

This lesson helps students learn about the judicial system through simulating a real court case involving student free speech rights. In addition to learning about how the Supreme Court operates, students will explore how the Supreme Court protects their rights, interprets the Constitution, and works with the other two branches of government.

This is a full unit of study from iCivics, featuring multiple lesson plans with presentations, downloadable documents, and more. In this language arts unit, students learn how to "argue on paper" using a fictional case about a school dress code rule against band t-shirts. The lessons take them through the process of writing two persuasive essays: one supporting the rule and one opposing it. After the essays, we suggest having your class play the game Supreme Decision to see how these arguments relate to issues of freedom of speech in schools. Supreme Decision is an excellent fit with the language arts classroom because it requires reading comprehension and higher-order thinking skills in the application of rules and evaluation of arguments.

This lesson contains several elements including an online interactive tutorial, quiz, and case study writing prompt.

Students will learn about their rights in school and how the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution has been applied to court cases by Federal courts.

The federal judiciary, which includes the Supreme Court as well as the district and circuit courts, is one of three branches of the federal government. This lesson provides an introduction to the Supreme Court.

A popular introductory guide for American citizens and those of other countries who seek a greater understanding of our heritage of democracy. The question-and-answer format covers a broad range of topics dealing with the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our government as well as the electoral process and the role of political parties.

Plessy v. Ferguson was an 1896 Supreme Court case concerning whether "separate but equal" railway cars for black and white Americans violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In this video, Kim discusses the case with scholars Jamal Greene and Earl Maltz. [18:39]

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

This thoughtful unit explores the history of school desegregation legislation, including a discussion of the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education decisions. A six-week plan of lessons, along with other sample lesson plans. Includes annotated bibliographies. While this is an older unit, it is still relevant.