This resource, developed by the 2016-17 Leadership Academy of The Missouri Bar, provides simple explanations of key concepts regarding the federal and state government, the judiciary, civil and criminal litigation, torts, and contracts. Click here to access the guide.
The purpose of this booklet is to assist teachers in instructing their students about civil law. Click here to access the lesson plan.
On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Historians generally agree that the passage of this legislation along with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally brought to fruition the promises embodied in the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.
These coloring books were developed by The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section and the Citizenship Education Program to help students better understand the government and legal system. Download them here.
Constitutional issues and teenagers. Click here to download the lesson plan.
Due to recent developments and availability of computers, cell phones, and internet sites such as FaceBook, the traditional concept of the school bully has changed. Now, individuals can attack others, their reputations, and even diminish their self-esteem from a distance. Who is responsible for dealing with this problem? What can schools and parent do to reduce the problem, and what, if any, legislation deals with the issue?
This lesson plan breaks down the concept of incorporation as it relates to the Bill of Rights, including the concept of “selective” incorporation. Click here to access the lesson plan.
The Missouri Bar Citizenship Education Program recognizes that preparing students to take the American Government end-of-course test is not an easy task for teachers. These end-of-course materials were developed to provide a practical guide to the American Government end-of-course test. Although the materials were developed to coordinate with the We the People and the Constitution curriculum, teachers can readily adapt these materials to any government text.
The Fair Housing Act was passed to address discriminatory practices by real estate agents, landlords and any entity or person who was in the business of selling or renting housing of any kind. Click here to view the lesson plan.
This short lesson on the Fourth Amendment can be used with students Grades 5 and higher. The objective of the lesson is to quickly acquaint students with the protections in the Fourth Amendment and to explore some Fourth Amendment situations involving young people. Click here to view the lesson plan.
Arguably, Section 1 of the 14th Amendment has had more impact on law in the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries than any other provision of the United States Constitution. Many constitutional scholars refer to the 14th Amendment as the Great Amendment. This plan’s objective is to help students understand its details and how they continue to matter. Click here to view the lesson plan.
When we play sports, we want the umpire or the referee to come to the game without favoring one side over the other, just like we want the judge to only consider the facts and the rule of law in any cases before the court. As U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts remarked during his nomination hearings, “Judges and justices are servants of the law, not the other way around. Judges are like umpires. Umpires don’t make the rules; they apply them. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical. They make sure everybody plays by the rules. But it is a limited role. Nobody ever went to a ballgame to see the umpire.”
Four lessons plans on the rule of law, the role of the judiciary branch, judicial review and Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan. Click here to download the lesson plan.
Juvenile Justice in Missouri. Click here to download the lesson plan.
The 2011-2012 Leadership Academy’s Group Project is a collection of lesson plans, student assessments, PowerPoint presentations,and learning activities for teachers. The lessons are grouped into five categories. There is also an overview explaining the project, its purpose and goals to parents and school administrators.
Within the past year, more teachers have been buying or have been given iPads to expand their teaching options and content. However, recent polls show that few teachers have been given sufficient in-service and/or resources to begin the process. In an effort to aid social studies teachers in addressing this problem, the following “starter list” has been compiled in the areas of civics and American government.
On June 15, 1215, King John of England placed his seal on the Magna Carta at Runnymede, which is a field not too far from London. Although this event took place 561 years prior to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, 572 years prior to the creation of the United States Constitution and 574 years prior to the creation of the Bill of Rights, all of these Founding Documents were heavily influenced by the principles found in the Magna Carta. The following lesson plan examines the influence of the principles found in the Magna Carta on America’s Founding Documents.
Although forced confessions have been frowned upon in both English American jurisprudence, Miranda v. Arizona institutionalized the illegality of such confessions and made it part of the criminal procedure landscape in the United States.
This lesson plan contains a study guide, plus a corresponding PowerPoint and end-of-course considerations.
The Framers of the Constitution debated a great deal about what the powers of the presidency should be. This advanced lesson plan on presidency will help students understand the concept of the rule of law and how it applies to the American presidency.
The Missouri Plan has served as a national model for the selection of judges and has been adopted in more than 30 states. The merit-based system, adopted by Missouri voters in 1940, helps ensure a fair and impartial justice system by keeping politics and money out of our courts.
Click here to download the lesson plan.
Gideon v. Wainwright ushered in the Sixth Amendment right of a person accused of a crime to have legal counsel. This lesson plan details this important case.
Congress passed the Voting Rights Act (VRA) on August 4, 1965, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed it into law just two days later on August 6. Historians generally agree that the passage of this legislation, along with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, finally brought to fruition the promises embodied in the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, which were passed soon after the end of the Civil War. Learn about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its current implications through this lesson plan.
The original Constitution did not define citizenship, but there are some references. This lesson plan explores the concept of citizenship in the United States.
