Interview and Teaching Activity by Michelle Parrini; The study of competing interpretations of the Second Amendment illuminates for students why an acceptable compromise on gun policies has been so elusive.

Students take on the roles of archivists and researchers when they study primary documents at the Constitution in Action Lab.

Students will learn a great deal about the process of presidential speechwriting when they study primary documents related to well-known speeches such as President Reagan's Omaha Beach Memorial Remarks.

A study of select campaign posters, cartoons, and ads teaches students to critically analyze messages from media sources and to understand the role media have played throughout the history of American elections.

If our democracy is to fulfill its promise of enabling citizens to participate fully and equally, we must do more to address why schools often fail to provide equal access to civic learning opportunities.

The two featured political cartoons will stir classroom debate on how presidential election campaigns are planned.

Students will comprehend the many factors that influence an election when they analyze why this successful prediction system forecasts a popular vote victory for the Democrats in 2008.

Helen M. Joyce

These election-related websites offer material that is specialized, timely, and appealing to students.

Lesson Plan by Lara Maupin and PBS NewsHour Staff