Focus on the First Branch: Congress & the Constitution

Forward

Is today's closely divided Congress, made up of 535 members–435 voting members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators–capable of meeting the myriad challenges we face in 21st century America? What did the Founders intend the legislative branch to accomplish? Why does it all seem so complicated? In this newsletter, we highlight the ten lessons In our Congress and the Constitution curriculum which is designed to help you and your students tackle these and other important questions about the first branch of the federal government. What other questions do you have on this topic? Reach out to let us know.

How were the Civil War and the question of slavery related to differing interpretations of a pro-slavery or anti-slavery Constitution? In this new video, distinguished scholar and two-time Lincoln Prize winner, James Oakes, and BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams discuss his new book The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution. Oakes explores what role the Constitution played in abolishing slavery and how the Civil War accelerated this process.

Please join Gary and Liz live next Tuesday, April 6 at 4 p.m. ET for the next Teacher Time webinar, "Reading, Writing, and Discourse: How Do We Engage With Fundamental Skills in Social Studies?" If you're unable to join live, you can watch this and all of the past episodes of Teacher Time on our YouTube Channel. Learn more and register HERE.

Our AP Prep Student webinars continue tonight at 7 p.m. ET with AP U.S. History Skills' latest episode with Daniel Jocz and Nicole Moretti. These run every Monday and Tuesday evening through Tuesday, April 13. The series on AP Government Skills with John Burkowski and Elizabeth Evans continues tomorrow Wednesday, March 31, and runs every Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. ET through April 22. If your students are unable to join live, they can watch the recording the next day on our YouTube Channel.

News and Other Opportunities

Census Bureau Resources
Our partners at the National Census Bureau have asked us to remind you that they have monthly-themed activities and resources on their website for use in your classroom or at home. They offer students an opportunity to learn about and work with Census Bureau data while celebrating holidays, special observances, and current events specific to the month.

Ideas in Progress Podcast
Ideas in Progress is a podcast from our friends at the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University. It is hosted by IHS historian Dr. Anthony Comegna and invites professors and scholars to share how their research intersects with classical liberal ideas. They air a new episode every Wednesday. Check it out HERE.

Constitutional Debate: Should the Electoral College Be Abolished?
The Constitutional Studies Program and The Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier are hosting an online debate with Jesse Wegman, New York Times, and Trent England, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. on Thursday, April 1 from 12:45 to 2:00 p.m. ET. "Resolved: The Electoral College Should be Abolished" is free and open to the public. Visit the website for more information and to register.

We want you to be part of an amazing group of teachers who help BRI with classroom resources! The Bill of Rights Institute is now accepting applicants for our Teacher Council through May 15, 2021. Learn more about the Teacher Council and apply today.

Student Spotlight

Meet Noa Rubinstein!
Noa Rubinstein, one of our recent Think the Vote debate winners, attends Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School, an all-girls, modern Orthodox yeshiva high school in Teaneck, New Jersey that is dedicated to providing a Torah-based education. Noa’s favorite subjects are Math and History. She is also very involved in extracurricular activities, writing for the school newspaper, participating in the Model U.N., on the debate team, and serving on the school’s volunteer committee...Read More.

Join the Debate on Think the Vote!

Encourage your students to join in the latest debate on Think the Vote for a chance to be featured in our Student Spotlight, and to win a $25 gift card and swag for them and for you. This week's question: Should the U.S. Provide Public Pre-K Programming? Winning students are also entered for a chance to win a $1000 scholarship at the end of the school year.

Remember the Ladies: New Podcast Episode

Finish Women's History Month on a high note by listening to the latest episode of our Fabric of History podcast. Join Mary and special guest Dr. Emily Krichbaum, History Department Chair at the Columbus School for Girls and founder of Remember The Ladies, as they delve into women’s progression of rights, ultimately leading to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. What many roles did women have in advancing their right to vote? What methods of protest made Alice Paul different from her contemporaries?

BoE: Bottom of Email

Dear John,

In my This Week in Civics episode this week, I had a lot of fun looking at rhetoric in a democracy. But while exploring the classical rhetorical forms, I was struck by the sense of responsibility I have to be informed and help our students be informed. I also wonder, though: how do I do that? How do I do it well? How do you do it?

I always start with myself and make sure that I am using all the tools at my disposal to learn the most I can about the issue at hand. I use resources like our First Branch: Congress and the Constitution resource, or All Sides, a fantastic resource for analyzing news events. Where do you go first?

There is so much going on in civics today, on the national and local levels (Asian violence, spending bill, criminal justice reform.) And the first place most young people go is to you. How are you doing? How are your kids? What current events resources are you using to help them navigate today.?

BRI is here to help. We are writing eLessons, putting together YouTube videos, and always trying to support you better. We are looking forward to doing even more.

Sincerely yours,

Rachel Davison Humphries
Director, Outreach
Bill of Rights Institute

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