GETTING STARTED ON YOUR PROJECT!
Did you know there is a fourth branch of government? It is YOU- the
people. How does the system of checks and balances affect YOU? It doesn't you
say??? Now that you have researched the topic of checks and balances within
the American democratic system, it is time to decide on a project topic.
Using the links below, or other links on this site, you need to research a
few topics you are interested in. You are not gathering information- just
trying to decide on a topic. These topics can be specific: i.e. The Incident
at Wounded Knee, SD 1973, or more broad, i.e. teen rights in high school.
This is just a BRAINSTORMING SESSION to get you started. At the end of your
organizer, there is room to web and brainstorm topics, resources and
presentation ideas.
BUT FIRST: LET'S TAKE A BREAK. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO WATCH MOVIES!! AND
HAVE A SNACK! YAY! Click on the 2nd
link- there you will find movies done by students. Please watch the following
three I movies:
Grass to Be Walked On: Women's Rights in China
An Immigrant's Journey
Stories of the American Experience
THEN: Please click on Link 3
Watch the following IMovies and then 2 more of your choice
and any other movies that interest you
Respect For Girls
Rights and Responsiblities in History
Civil Rights Video Essay
Protest Music Video
State Issues-The Native People of Hawaii
War Story Documentary
The Life of a Veteran
When you are done, answer the rest of the questions on the organizer.
Internet Links
The Fourth Branch of Government
http://www.perkel.com/politics/issues/fourth.htm
I Movie Apple Awards- Movies by students for students.
http://www.apple.com/education/ilifeawards/
More Movies by Students on Issues in Social Sciences
http://www.apple.com/education/ilifeawards/honorablemention.html
Dogpile - a great megasearch engine
http://www.dogpile.com
Checks and Balances on the state level
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1999/Jun-16-Wed-1999/opinion/11379279.html
ACLU and Victims rights/checks and balances
http://www.aclu.org/CriminalJustice/CriminalJustice.cfm?ID=12299&c=15
Women's rights/democracy/checks and balances
http://www.iht.com/articles/512367.html
Congress for Kids
http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_checksandbalances.htm
Checks and Balances in the Electoral Process
http://www.usnewsclassroom.com/resources/activities/act001127.html
The Patriot Act? Dangerous to Civil Liberties? The Congress's Role
http://www.aclu.org/NationalSecurity/NationalSecurity.cfm?ID=9810&c=111
Peace Resource Center and Human Rights Education
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/peace/peaceedu/binder2.html
links to many Native American sites
http://www.nativeculture.com/lisamitten/indians.html
The Bill of Rights and the Native American
http://archive.aclu.org/library/pbp9.html
A site that promotes rights for all citizens- contains Billy Jo Lara vs U.S
and other Native American court cases
http://www.citizensalliance.org/
Patriot Act 2 and checks and balances
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12161&c=206&Type=s
The Native Voice- a Native American newspaper
http://www.native-voice.com/
The mandating of racially mixed juries
http://currents.ucsc.edu/03-04/10-20/juries.html
A newpaper article which describes how Hispanics were left off voting lists
in Tennesee during the 2000 Presidential election
http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/9127453.htm
TV news lies checks and balances and the Constitution
http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/the_constitution.html
A site on Cesar Chavez
http://www.sfsu.edu/~cecipp/cesar_chavez/chavezhome.htm
AIM
http://www.aics.org/WK/index.html
Wounded Knee-1973
http://www.rwor.org/a/v19/950-59/952/wound.htm
Election sites for students
http://www.clovisusd.k12.ca.us/vote2000/student.htm
CNN Student News
http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/fyi/index.html
Other Resources
Truly, T. (2002). Teen rights: A legal guide for teens and the adults in
their lives. Naperville, IL: Sphinx Publishing
http://www.channelone.com