Students will explore the budgeting process in North Carolina, gaining an understanding of the different categories of our state's budget, how they are funded, and the state's procedure for making a budget. Students will participate in an experiential activity in which they create a balanced state budget, determining what areas to prioritize and then defending their decisions to fellow legislators.

In this experiential activity, students will gain an understanding of the role of city councils, the responsibilities of council members, and the relevance of council decisions to individual citizens. Assuming the roles of city council members or special interest groups, students will participate in a city council simulation in which council members must decide how to spend an $800,000 grant allocated for local environmental improvements. Students can then apply learned presentation skills and acquired understandings to format a presentation for a local governing body.

This resource contains a video which discusses the Supreme Court: its history and evolution; how the justices select, hear, and decide cases; and the role of an independent judiciary and other issues crucial to a healthy democracy today.

In this lesson, students will learn about the basis of county and city government and, through role plays, will explore some of the major difference between counties and municipalities.

Students will assume the roles of County Commissioners and utilize advocacy, negociation, and compromise to create a county budget.

In this lesson, students will gain an understanding of the role of the county board of commissioners, the responsibilities of commissioners, and the relevance of a board's decisions to individual citizens. Assuming the roles of county commissioners or special interest groups, students will participate in a board of commissioners' simulation in which commissioners must decide whether to pass a county budget.

This presentation is intended for use with the lesson plan "County Commissioners and Independent Boards." In this lesson, students will participate in a budgeting simulation in which they learn about the responsibilities and interactions of county boards of commissioners and state mandated county independent boards.

Students will examine the organization of local governments, charters, and elections by creating their own city.

In this Teaching with the News lesson, students will explore, debate, and evaluate multiple perspectives on U.S. foreign policy regarding drones.

In this Teaching with the News lesson, students will analyze the issues that frame the current debate on U.S. policy towards Syria. They will consider the role of the U.S. public, the president, and Congress in the decision of whether to use military force. Students will work cooperatively within groups to integrate the arguments and beliefs of the options into a persuasive, coherent presentation. Finally, they will explore, debate, and evaluate multiple perspectives on U.S. policy towards Syria through a role-play activity.

This lesson focuses on the debates among the U.S. Founders surrounding the distribution of power between states and the federal government. Students learn about the pros and cons of state sovereignty vs. federalism and have the opportunity to argue different sides of the issue.

Narrated by Bowdoin College Government Professor Andrew Rudalevige, "Founding Principles" provides an introductory overview and basic understanding to American government, but one that is crucial to building citizen-leaders, promoting civic engagement, and working toward the common good.
Chapter Fifteen reviews the important aspects of the American system of government and encourages viewers to use their knowledge to get involved in their own political world.

Narrated by Bowdoin College Government Professor Andrew Rudalevige, "Founding Principles" provides an introductory overview and basic understanding to American government, but one that is crucial to building citizen-leaders, promoting civic engagement, and working toward the common good.
Chapter Five discusses the judicial branch, its history, and its powers and responsibilities.

Narrated by Bowdoin College Government Professor Andrew Rudalevige, "Founding Principles" provides an introductory overview and basic understanding to American government, but one that is crucial to building citizen-leaders, promoting civic engagement, and working toward the common good.
Chapter Four discusses the power of the president and where the limits in power exist.

Narrated by Bowdoin College Government Professor Andrew Rudalevige, "Founding Principles" provides an introductory overview and basic understanding to American government, but one that is crucial to building citizen-leaders, promoting civic engagement, and working toward the common good.
Chapter One discusses how the American Government was formed in the late 1700s, including the creation of the Constitution.

Narrated by Bowdoin College Government Professor Andrew Rudalevige, "Founding Principles" provides an introductory overview and basic understanding to American government, but one that is crucial to building citizen-leaders, promoting civic engagement, and working toward the common good.
Chapter Three discusses Congress and its power, and how it works and doesn't work for public interest.

Narrated by Bowdoin College Government Professor Andrew Rudalevige, "Founding Principles" provides an introductory overview and basic understanding to American government, but one that is crucial to building citizen-leaders, promoting civic engagement, and working toward the common good.
Chapter Two discusses the differences in national and state government systems and what levels of power exist therein.

This lesson explains the steps taken by the First Congress to name a president and vice president, to provide funding for the new government, to draft a bill of rights, and to organize the executive and judicial branches.

In this lesson, students examine the third branch of government (judicial) and its early origins in the framing of the Constitution. A set of discussion questions is provided. In an associated activity, students work in triads to review the article from a specific perspective (President, Chief Justice, and Senate Majority Leader).