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American Government
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American Government
Cobbler Statesman
During colonial times, an ordinary citizen becomes involved in the formation of the United States. After the Revolutionary War, he joins in helping to solve the challenges of a new government for a new nation...
Our Bill of Rights
A dramatization of the debate and drafting of the first 10 amendments to the constitution includes George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and more.
Meet Your Federal Government
An introduction and overview of the structure of the U.S. government. A high school senior discovers the makeup of our federal government and how the three branches of government work.
Legislative Branch
The Powers of Congress
Mr. Williams drops off to sleep for a few minutes to find himself confronted with a world in which Congress has been suspended and federal authority dissolved.
Judicial Branch
Two Centuries of Criminal Justice
Reviews the history of the criminal justice system in the United States from the nation's inception through the 1960's. Criminal justice reforms, particularly those regarding the rights of the criminal defendant are...
History of the Federal Court Goverance
This program highlights the turning points in the development of federal judicial administration and covers the Judiciary Act of 1789 through the creation of the Judiciary.
Equal Justice Under the Law Series: (with Teacher's Guide)
Teacher's Guide (3.4mb)
Marbury v. Madison
In this 1803 case the Supreme Court established its responsibility to review the constitutionality of acts of Congress. President John Adams appointed Federalist William Marbury as justice of the peace...
United States v. Aaron Burr
The trial of Aaron Burr, presided over by Chief Justice John Marshall, Strictly adhering to the Constitution, Marshall stepped between Burr and death, and the doors were closed against government abuse of the treason charge.
Gibbons v. Ogden
Presents a conflict between the States and Congress over the authority to regulate commerce. In this case, which linked States' authority to license steamboats in federal waters with a seemingly unrelated issue, slavery...
McCulloch v. Maryland
Can states tax the operations of the federal government? In this unpopular decision, the Supreme Court dealt a great blow to a claim of states' rights by striking down a state's attempt to interfere with a legitimate...
Executive Branch
See American Presidents.
Miscellaneous
The Federal Reserve System
The Federal Reserve System (also known as the Federal Reserve, and informally as the Fed) is the central banking system of the United States. It was conceived by several of the world's leading bankers in 1910 and enacted in...
Department of the Treasury 
Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury. The Treasury Department consists of the: Bureau of Mint, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Public...
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is a research library for the United States Congress. It was established in 1800 with the purpose of housing research material for inqueries from members of Congress.
Government Printing Office
In 1813, Congress determined to make information regarding the work of the three branches of Government available to all Americans. This is the inherent function of Government which GPO carries out for Federal agencies...
The National Archives
The National Archives in Washington, D.C. preserves and catalogs our public documents and stores them for future generations.
The Story of Our Flag
The evolution of the U.S. flag from the colonial days to the flag used in the late 30s. U.S. Expansion is represented by added stars to the flag.
U.S. Money: History & How It's Made
Money, from colonial times to the present - you'll see where our paper currency and coins came from and how they're made. Hosted by Debra Wilson.
... More Money & Finance 
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