Relates the story of the evolution of Congressional abilities to conduct investigations of governmental figures and agencies. Uses a series of famous investigations including Teapot Dome, the Pecora Wall Street Investigation, Senator Harry Truman's war-profiteering investigations, Senator Joseph McCarthy's anticommunist investigations, and…

Describes a project titled "A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873," by the Law Library of Congress to make the documentary records of Congress available over the World Wide Web. Also, notes other World Wide Web sites related to the Congress. (DSK)

Recounts the role of Congress in creating much of the New Deal legislation. Argues that the impetus for many pieces of legislation came from Congress, not from President Roosevelt. Suggests that the story of Roosevelt as mastermind was fostered by his assumption of greater executive power during World War II. (DSK)

Presents a classroom simulation that employs active learning to introduce students to congressional politics using the national issues of the Gilded Age. Explains that the students are divided into groups in order to simulate the U.S. Senate and then discuss, amend, and vote on legislation. Provides four detailed simulation options. (CMK)

Argues that the documentary history of the Congress offers a compelling source of primary materials for the classroom. Discusses two types of frequently overlooked documents, petitions to Congress from ordinary citizens and political cartoons by Clifford Berryman, and aspects of United States' history illustrated by them. (DSK)

Believes that by focusing on the recurrent situations and problems, or parallels, throughout history, students will understand the relevance of history to their own times and lives. Provides suggestions for parallels in history that may be introduced within lectures or as a means to class discussions. (CMK)

Summarizes the relationship of President Franklin Roosevelt to Congress and its role in creating New Deal legislation. Presents a lesson plan using primary documents that allows students to explore congressional responsibility for enabling the Great Depression and for legislation to deal with its consequences. Includes copies of the documents.…

Presents a high school lesson plan on the struggle over ratification of the Treaty of Versailles and U.S. participation in the League of Nations. Includes a timeline of events, four primary source documents, and biographical portraits of two opposing senators. Provides student objectives and step-by-step instructional procedures. (CFR)