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Learning Activity: Civil liberties and national security

• American Civil Liberties Union

• Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice

• Council on Foreign Relations: Balancing Security and Civil Liberties

• Gonzales defends wiretaps amid protest

CNN STUDENT NEWS

(CNN Student News) -- Students will weigh in on the issues of civil liberties and national security.

Procedure

Direct students to their textbooks or online resources to identify the civil liberties that are outlined in the U.S. Bill of Rights. In class discussion, have students consider the importance of these liberties in today's society.

Then, group students, and assign each group a time period between 1798 and the present. Direct groups to their textbooks and other resources to identify examples of when Congress has taken legislative action to protect national security. Have students research the history and circumstances surrounding these legislative actions, and instruct them to present their findings to the class. Following each presentation, ask students: Did the legislative action achieve its goal? Why or why not? In your opinion, were civil liberties sacrificed? Why or why not? If so, do you think that the sacrifices were necessary? Explain.

Correlated Standards

Social Studies

Standard X: Civic Ideals and Practices (grades 9-12): Students will examine the ideals, principles and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic.

The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/) are published by the National Council for Social Studies (http://ncss.org/).

Civics

Standard 3 (grades 9-12): HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED BY THE CONSTITUTION EMBODY THE PURPOSES, VALUES, AND PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY?

The National Standards for Civics and Government (http://www.civiced.org/912erica.htm) are published by the Center for Civic Education (http://www.civiced.org/index.html)

Keywords

civil liberties, Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution, Congress, terrorism, curtail

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