The purpose of this election-education program is to help develop an informed electorate and to instill in future voters an appreciation of the importance of the right to vote. It provides a framework for discussions of the electoral process and gives students in grades three through six an opportunity to face the responsibilities and challenges…

This guide to the evaluation of immigrant legalization education programs in agencies approved for State Legalization Impact Assistance Grants (SLIAG) is divided into two parts. The first part describes how an agency's staff members can review their program in terms of quality criteria. Rating criteria and forms are provided for assessing overall…

This document focuses on the requirements of the immigrant amnesty process, which were established by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. Sections focus on the following questions: (1) How can eligible legalized aliens (ELA) fulfill the IRCA educational requirements? (2) What issues are considered in designing and offering an…

A discussion guide, one in a series on constitutional reform issues developed by The Jefferson Foundation as part of The Jefferson Meeting on the Constitution project, examines electoral college reform. The first section discusses how the electoral college functions and presents a brief history since 1787. The second section outlines four…

A discussion guide, one in a series on constitutional reform issues developed by The Jefferson Foundation as part of the Jefferson Meeting on the Constitution project, examines proposals to limit the President to a single 6-year term. The first section discusses the formative debate involved in the framing of the executive branch. The Presidential…

The 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution offers an excellent opportunity for encouraging renewed study of the principles and foundations of constitutional government. This resource packet provides a listing of current materials and resources to aid teachers in planning lesson units. The listings include: (1) professional…

A strong case can be made that the study of law, properly conceived as a resource to enrich civics as a branch of social science, is the broader study of the role of law in the social order. Study about law provides a unique opportunity for: (1) addressing what has historically been a neglected, pervasive daily influence on us all; (2) analyzing…

According to the document, Dr. Andrew Brimmer did an excellent job of identifying emerging economic concerns. Dr. Brimmer's characterization of economics as a tool kit can help young people examine important social questions using principles of economics as the tool for analysis. One way to build an economics tool kit is by placing more stress on…

Using the news media as resource material in the classroom is an excellent and under-utilized way to bring the reality and diversity of external politics into the classroom. Using that external reality in combination with the internal reality of the schools as unique political communities can provide a more complete and realistic civic education.…

The founding fathers of the United States were products of a classical education, and they used the Greek and Roman classics as republican models and classical virtues. In their writings, the founders frequently associated liberty and republicanism with the ancient commonwealths. John Adams spoke on three separate occasions of the need to reflect…

Student involvement in the democratic process and understanding of the nature of public schools can be enhanced through the study of community school board elections. The materials in this instructional guide present basic information with related student learning activities to assist teachers in planning an election mini-unit. The unit may be…

Five consumer activists relate consumerism to education through: 1) a history of consumerism, 2) the relationship between economic and political citizenship, 3) the use of consumer problems to analyze political decision making, 4) comparing economic systems, and 5) education for consumer activism. (JH)

Striking at the heart of social studies is an educational practice that restricts citizenship involvement in the promotion of a democratic society. Alberta Learning (2000) defines Social studies as "a school subject that assists students to acquire [the] basic knowledge, skills and positive attitudes needed to be responsible citizens and…

Based on the Constitution and By-Laws of the Blackfeet Tribe, approved by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 1935, the Blackfeet Tribal Council has the authority to make civil and criminal laws and procedures to protect the peace, tranquility, and dignity of all persons residing within the Blackfeet Indian Reservation; to protect the…