Election Teaching Resources
Dive into learning about the electoral process, the executive branch, and the Constitution as you follow the 2024 presidential election. Our free, nonpartisan classroom resources, primary source documents, short videos, virtual events, and exhibit explorations are available to craft relevant lesson plans for students and engage learners of all ages.
Elections and the Interactive Constitution
Explore foundations of the electoral process in our Interactive Constitution, a nonpartisan tool that allows learners of all ages to engage with the text of the Constitution.
Article II: Executive Branch, the President
Article II establishes the executive branch of the federal government and outlines the powers and duties of the president.
Learn More12th Amendment: Election of the President and Vice President
The 12th Amendment establishes the process for electing the president and vice president.
Learn MoreArticle I, Section 4: Legislative Branch, Elections
Article 1, Section 4, establishes guidelines for congressional elections and meetings.
Learn MoreRecommended Classroom Resources on Election Topics
Our library of educational resources for classrooms offers everything educators need to craft relevant lesson plans—view videos from our Constitution 101 teacher-led curriculum or our student-led course in partnership with Khan Academy, explore primary source documents, and find engaging activities.
Shelby County v.
Holder
Primary Source
The Constitution and the Federal Election Process
Blog PostExploring the Vote in Your Community
Activity GuideLearn About Voting Rights
Why Did the Founders Create the Electoral College?
Civil Dialogue and Constitutional Conversations
Collection
A List of Electoral College Count Resources
BlogVirtual Museum Experiences for Students
Your classroom can join us live or on demand, as your schedule fits, to make election connections with our exhibits. We are offering Scholar Exchanges focusing on the topic of the Electoral College through November!
Story of We the People - Election Connections
Tuesday, October 29 | Noon ET
Students can join us live as we highlight all of the Election Connections from our main exhibit, The Story of We the People. We’ll explore Article II of the Constitution and look at the history of voting rights and how people have cast their ballots.
Voting Rights and Elections Virtual Tour
This virtual tour explores questions like: Does the Constitution protect the right to vote? What is the basic constitutional framework for elections in the United States? What role did the amendment process play in shaping voting rights? Explore the ins and outs of elections and voting with live classes and virtual exhibit tours.
Learn MoreAmerica's Town Hall Programs on Election Topics
Democracy Checkup: Preparing for the 2024 Election
Democracy, Populism, and the Tyranny of the Minority
We the People Podcasts on Election Topics
How to Prevent Another January 6
The Honorable J. Michael Luttig, formerly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, recounts a story of his historic tweet that contributed to Vice President Mike Pence’s decision to certify the results of the 2020 election, along with his reflections on how to prevent another January 6. He’s joined by three experts—Ned Foley of The Ohio State University, Sarah Isgur of The Dispatch, and Clark Neily of the Cato Institute—who are each leading a team on a bipartisan project for the National Constitution Center, Restoring the Guardrails of Democracy. They discuss other potential reforms including whether changes should be made to the Electoral Count Act and preview their forthcoming reports for the project. Together, our panelists consider ways to strengthen American constitutional and democratic institutions against current and future threats. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Learn More
America’s Most Consequential Elections: From FDR to Reagan
Michael Gerhardt, author of the new book FDR’s Mentors: Navigating the Path to Greatness, and Andrew Busch, author of Reagan's Victory: The Presidential Election of 1980 and the Rise of the Right, explore the pivotal elections of 1932 and 1980. They compare the transformative presidencies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, and trace how founding-era debates between Hamilton and Jefferson over the scope of federal and executive power re-emerged during the New Deal and Reagan Revolution.
Learn MoreConstitution Daily Blog Posts
Use these blog posts to craft answers to questions on post-election processes established by the Constitution and its amendments that may arise on or after Election Day. These resources can be used as deep dives on historical events or discussion starters about modern debates:
- When does the Supreme Court get involved in settling presidential elections?
- Understanding the Constitution’s 25th Amendment
- Looking back at the last presidential election settled by the House
- Looking back: The Supreme Court decision that ended Nixon’s presidency
- What is the Constitutional Role of the Vice President?
