Homework Links: Government & Politics

OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS RESOURCE CENTER - Searchable, user-friendly source for research covering today's hottest social issues, from Terrorism to Endangered Species, Stem Cell Research to Gun Control; for grades K-12. Provides opinions from both sides of controversial topics, plus core reference content on social issues. If you're using Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center on your home computer, you'll have to enter your library card barcode to begin.

EBSCO POINTS OF VIEW REFERENCE CENTER - Another research source for students presenting opinions from multiple sides of current controversial issues. Essays provide questions and materials for further thought and study and are accompanied by thousands of supporting articles from political and social publications. Login to the POINTS OF VIEW REFERENCE CENTER with your library card barcode number. NOTE: If you have problems with the direct EBSCO login link, use our DATABASE LOGIN page.

American Women in Politics - Facts about women in U.S. politics, including lists of women currently in Congress or statewide elective office, current and historical information about women officeholders and candidates, state-by-state facts about women officeholders, data on the gender gap and voting patterns, women of color in elective office, and firsts for women in U.S. politics. High school and up (Rutgers). See also Women in Congress, described below.

Ben's Guide to U.S. Government - Explains how our government works. Includes some interactive games. Separate sections for different age groups, K-12.

Black Leadership - Interviews with dozens of leaders from the black community, exploring the early influences on their lives, along with 'issues of black leadership and the transformational role of the civil rights movement in America' (University of Virginia). Congressional Black Caucus traces the history of the participation and contribution of African Americans in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate (Congressional Black Caucus Foundation). Black Americans in Congress, offers information and images of past and current black Members of Congress, and essays on historical events that have influenced African Americans in Congress (U.S. House of Representatives). See also African American Women in Congress.

Children's Books and Web Sites about the U.S. Government - A list of recommended books and websites for kids (grades K-12), covering campaigns & elections, Congress, the Constitution, the Presidency, how government works, and more. (U.S. Senate)

Congress for Kids [UPDATED LINK!] - Learn about our federal government and how its actions affect you. Includes interactive quizzes. Grade 4 and up. (Dirksen Congressional Center).

Conversations on the Constitution - Materials to encourage discussion and debate about the meaning of some of the Constitution's controversial concepts and clauses, including the Preamble, cruel and unusual punishment, war powers, separation of powers, an establishment of religion, and more. Includes interactive quizzes. High school and up (American Bar Association). US Constitution (Annotated) gives the full text of the Constitution, plus historical background, commentary, and important court cases for each article, section, clause, and amendment. High school and up (Cornell University). The Sunnylands Constitution Project new features interactive educational games, video of Supreme Court justices and legal experts discussing Constitutional issues, and related resources. High school and up; free registration required (Annenberg Foundation Trust).

Core Documents of U.S. Democracy - Links to online text of key documents such as the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Emancipation Proclamation, plus Supreme Court decisions, Congressional bills, and more. (U.S. Government Printing Office)

C-Span Classroom [UPDATED LINK!] - Includes a detailed explanation of the three branches of the U.S. government, with audio & video clips, plus many other resources. Middle school and up.

Elections the American Way - Essays, photos, audio recordings, and other materials to help you explore the history of the American political system. Covers candidates, voters, party system, election process, and issues, mostly up to the year 2000. (Library of Congress)

FactCheckEd - Lesson plans and related materials (PDF, WMV) designed to help students learn 'to see through the deceptions in the advertising and political messages that they encounter daily, to dig for facts using the Internet and other resources, and to set aside prejudice and weigh evidence logically.' High school and up. (Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania)

Federal Budget [LINK OPENS A PDF DOCUMENT] - This online booklet explains basic economic concepts related to the budget of the federal government, exploring similarities and differences between the federal budget and the family budget. Includes discussion questions and resources for additional information. High school and up (Federal Reserve Bank of New York). Think you can do a better job deciding how tax dollars should be spent? Give it a try with the interactive Budget Hero Game ; high school and up (American Public Media).

Federal Courts - This site on the history of the U.S. Judiciary includes a section on some important Federal Trials and Great Debates in United States History, including the Sedition Act Trials, the Aaron Burr Treason Trial, the Amistad Challenge to Slavery, and the Trial of Susan B. Anthony. High school and up (U.S. Federal Judicial Center). Additional materials about the federal courts may be found on the U.S. Courts Educational Outreach page; for high school students and teachers. See also Supreme Court, described below.

First Amendment Schools - Explores the five fundamental freedoms which the Constitution guarantees to every American citizen (freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition) and how we can all work to preserve these rights (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the First Amendment Center). See also First Amendment Center for news and information related to the First Amendment. For high school and up.

Inside the Courtroom - Explains what a courtroom is and what judges, federal prosecutors & U.S. attorneys do, and takes you step by step through the trial process from investigation through appeal. Includes a glossary of legal terms. Middle school and up. (U.S. Department of Justice)

Justice Learning - Articles, editorials, audio recordings, and interactive timelines teach you about 'reasoned debate and the often-conflicting values inherent in our democracy.' Explores issues like free speech, voting rights, zero tolerance, civil liberties in war, energy & environment, the drug war, and several others. All material is supported by age-appropriate summaries and additional links. High school and up. (NPR's Justice Talking and The New York Times Learning Network)

Kids in the House - Lessons describing what Congress is and how laws are made, plus interactive games & links to more resources for kids. K-12; separate sections for different age groups.

Living Room Candidate - Video of more than 250 Presidential campaign television commercials from every election year beginning in 1952 up to the present. Includes commentary, historical background, and election results; organized by year and theme (American Museum of the Moving Image). Political Campaigns offers videos of 2008 election ads from the Presidential candidates and political advocacy groups, as well as a comparison of some positive and negative campaign ads (Stanford University).

Lobbying Ethics - Explains what government lobbying is, how lobbying relates to ethics, and what kinds of ethical dilemmas lobbying presents. Includes fictional cases for discussion, plus additional resources on lobbying and government ethics. High school and up. (Santa Clara University)

Navigating Election Day - Explains the basics of why and how to vote. PDF format. (League of Women Voters).

NJ Legislature Kids Page - Explains what the Legislature is and how a bill becomes a law in New Jersey, plus the state flag, seal, and symbols, interactive games & puzzles, and coloring pages. For elementary and middle school students.

Opensecrets.org - Detailed data on campaign donors and spending for each of the Presidential, Senate, and Congressional candidates, with additional information on the role of money in politics. High school and up. (Center for Responsive Politics)

PBS Kids' Democracy Project - Explains the voting process, and how government affects your life. Also gives you a chance to be 'President for a Day.' For middle school students.

Polling - Explains what public opinion polls and surveys are, and how they are conducted. Includes a glossary of terms (University of Connecticut). See also Polls: What Do the Numbers Tell Us? , a more detailed examination of topics related to public opinion polling, including random samples, margins of error, confidence intervals, and what can go wrong. Includes interactives (Annenberg Media). High school and up.

Project Vote Smart - Biographies, campaign finances, issue positions, special interest group ratings, and voting records for federal and state candidates and officeholders. Biographical section includes addresses, phone numbers, email, and website links. High school and up.

Redistricting Game new - A challenging interactive game designed to teach students about the system which currently allows state legislators in most states to set the boundaries of their Congressional voting districts. 'By exploring how the system works, as well as how open it is to abuse, The Redistricting Game allows players to experience the realities of one of the most important (yet least understood) aspects of our political system.' Includes related learning resources. High school and up. (USC Annenberg Center)

Student Rights Issues [UPDATED LINK!] - Information about issues like drug testing, free speech, racial justice, and more. Includes video and podcasts. For college or advanced high school students. (American Civil Liberties Union)

Student Voices - Helps high school students examine how issues they consider important are played out in their own governments and election campaigns. Includes 'Speak Out!' discussions on hot issues, top news stories of the day, government research links, and more. (University of Pennsylvania)

Supreme Court - Supreme Court history and landmark cases, with interactive quizzes, timeline, primary source documents, and videos (© 2006, PBS). See also Our Courts , an interactive website designed to teach middle school students about civics and inspire them to be active participants in our democracy. Includes lesson plans and related curriculum materials (Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Georgetown University, & Arizona State University).

Third Parties in American Politics - Explains the history of the two-party system and the important roles of third parties in American politics. High school and up. (Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)

THOMAS - U.S. Congress on the Internet - Information on bills being considered by the Congress or Senate, or in Committee. Includes links to the House and Senate, as well as some agencies. Includes a webcast feature. For high school and up.

Voting [UPDATED LINK!] - These basic lessons in the statistics of voting examine several commonly used methods of calculating votes, such as plurality and run-off. The lessons also show how the outcome of an election may be different with different voting methods, and how elections can sometimes be manipulated to produce a desired outcome. For high school students. (By a Washington State University math professor.)

White House 101 - Fun facts about our presidents, presidential pets slide show, history of the White House, and more. All ages. (Official White House website)

Women in Congress - Historical essays, links, biographical profiles, and images of each woman Member from 1917 to the present (U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk). African American Women in Congress offers brief biographies of past and current women in the Congressional Black Caucus, and a record of their achievements. See also American Women in Politics, described above.