Accused? Know Your Rights

Lesson Plan

From cutting in line to hurting someone’s feelings, everyone's been accused of something. But what happens when people are accused of breaking the law? In this lesson, students learn about the rights of the accused and why the Framers prioritized them in the Bill of Rights. Students analyze protections granted to the accused and consider how those protections have been expanded over time.

Teacher Resources

Get access to lesson plans, teacher guides, student handouts, and other teaching materials.

I find the materials so engaging, relevant, and easy to understand – I now use iCivics as a central resource, and use the textbook as a supplemental tool. The games are invaluable for applying the concepts we learn in class. My seniors LOVE iCivics.

Lynna Landry , AP US History & Government / Economics Teacher and Department Chair, California

Related Resources

Lesson Plan

Amendment Mini-Lesson

Looking for a fun and easy way to help students learn or review their individual rights? This mini-lesson highlights the Constitution's amendments and new artwork from one of our fondest games Do I Have a Right?. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
View
Lesson Plan

Citizenship Clause

The 14th Amendment defined natural born citizenship for the nation. Over a century later, the clause is still making news. This mini-lesson examines the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, explains why it was created, and introduces students to questions raised in political debate around birthright citizenship.How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like the Supreme Court cases Elk v. Wilkins (1884) or our lesson Citizenship: Just the Facts. For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
View
Lesson Plan

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Meet the superhero legislation of civil rights. Students are introduced to eleven categories of civil rights protections with a focus on Title VII, which bans discrimination in the workplace. Students gain an understanding of how the Civil Rights Act affects people’s lives and apply civil rights protections to real-life scenarios.How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like the Supreme Court case EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch (2015) or lessons from our Civil Rights unit. For more suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
View
Game

Do I Have a Right?

Run a law firm and test your knowledge of constitutional rights.
View
Lesson Plan

Equal Protection Clause

Learn about one of the hardest working passages in the U.S. Constitution: the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Students learn why the clause was created and discover how it has been used to expand civil rights. After, students analyze how the extension of equal protection rights has changed American society.How to use this lesson: Use this lesson by itself or pair it with more iCivics resources, like the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and a variety of lessons from our Landmark Library. For suggestions, see the downloadable teacher resources below.
View
Lesson Plan

Expanding Protections

How are civil rights and liberties extended to more people and groups over time? In this lesson, students explore the various ways that civil rights and liberties can be expanded. Students also learn how the expansion of rights is based on the values embedded in our founding documents.
View
Lesson Plan

First and Foremost: Five Freedoms of the First…

Which civil liberties are in the First Amendment, and how do they impact you? In this lesson, students take a deep dive into the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment. Students also explore the limitations of these freedoms and how and why the government may restrict them.
View
Lesson Plan

Freedom of the Press

Can a constitutional democracy function if the people don’t know the issues? In this lesson, students learn what freedom of the press means and why it was considered so important that it needed to be protected in the First Amendment. Students analyze today’s media coverage and consider how the expansion of digital media continues to raise new challenges about how to keep people informed.
View
Lesson Plan

Give Us Liberties and Give Us Rights

We’ve all got rights, but where do we find them? In this lesson, students learn the difference between civil rights and civil liberties. Students also discover how these freedoms are protected by the Constitution, its amendments, federal laws, and the courts. This is the introductory lesson for the unit, and it touches on some of the topics that are covered by other lessons in the unit.
View
Lesson Plan

Nothing Absolute About Rights

Nothing is set in stone. And that includes our rights. In this lesson, students learn how and why the courts can limit people’s civil rights and liberties. Students take on the role of Justice to analyze and rule on several real Supreme Court cases.
View