Built for the classroom
We The People is a reference site covering the United States government from top to bottom: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; the Constitution and its amendments; the federal departments and agencies; elections and voting; all fifty states and the U.S. territories; and long-form American history. It is free, carries no ads, and asks nothing of students, no sign-up, no login, and nothing to install.
Because every page has its own stable web address, you can assign one page at a time. Post a link as a reading assignment, paste it into a Google Classroom post, add it to a slide or a document, or open it on the projector and read through a section together.
How to use this site
- Assign a single page as reading. Copy the page URL from your browser and post it as an assignment or a reading link. No account is needed to open it.
- Pair it with Google Classroom. Add the link to a Classroom post or assignment. Students click through and read; you can attach questions or a response document in Classroom as usual.
- Project a page in class. Open a page on the board and work through a section, a timeline, or a primary-source excerpt together.
- Follow a reading path. The sequences below move students through a unit one page per class period, ending with a synthesis page.
Reading paths you can assign in order
Unit: The Three Branches
A one-week overview of how power is divided at the federal level. Assign one page per class period, then close with the checks-and-balances page.
- The House of RepresentativesStart with the chamber closest to the voters and how seats are apportioned.
- The U.S. SenateContrast the two chambers: term length, equal state representation, unique powers.
- The PresidentThe head of the executive branch, the office's powers, and its limits.
- The Supreme CourtHow the top court is staffed and how judicial review works.
- Safeguards Against TyrannyWrap-up: how the branches check one another, with historical examples.
Unit: The Constitution
From why the framers scrapped the Articles of Confederation through the amendment process. Pairs well with a primary-source reading of the document itself.
- Before the ConstitutionThe Articles of Confederation and the problems that led to the 1787 convention.
- The FramersWho was in the room, the major compromises, and who was left out.
- The Full ConstitutionThe complete text with a section-by-section summary alongside it.
- The Bill of RightsThe first ten amendments and why they were added as a condition of ratification.
- All 27 AmendmentsHow the document has changed since 1791 and the amendments still being proposed.
Unit: The Executive Branch in Depth
The unit that first brought classroom traffic to this site. Moves from the presidency out to the departments and agencies that carry out federal law.
- The PresidentConstitutional powers, the oath, and the scope of the office.
- The Vice PresidentThe role in the Senate, presidential succession, and how it has grown.
- The CabinetWhat the Cabinet is, how members are confirmed, and the order of succession.
- The Department of StateA worked example of one department: mission, structure, and history.
- Executive OrdersHow presidents direct the executive branch, and where that power stops.
Unit: Elections and Voting
How Americans choose their representatives, from registration through the Electoral College, plus the map-drawing that shapes outcomes.
- How Elections WorkRegistration, primaries, general elections, and who runs them.
- The Electoral CollegeHow the president is actually chosen and the debates over the system.
- Voting Rights in AmericaThe long expansion of the franchise and the laws that shaped it.
- Redistricting and GerrymanderingHow district lines are drawn every ten years and why it matters.
- Midterm ElectionsWhat is on the ballot between presidential years and why turnout drops.
Topic bundles by unit
Groups of existing pages organized the way most civics and government courses are. Pull what fits your scope and sequence.
The Constitution and Amendments
The founding document, the Bill of Rights, and the individual amendments most often taught on their own.
The Legislative Branch
How Congress is organized, how it makes law, and the procedures that decide what passes.
The Executive Branch
The presidency, the Cabinet, and the fifteen executive departments that carry out federal law.
The Judicial Branch
The federal courts, how justices and judges are chosen, and the cases that set precedent.
How the System Is Built
Why the framers chose a republic, how it compares to other systems, and the mechanisms that keep any one branch in check.
Elections, Voting, and Participation
How representatives are chosen, how the rules have changed, and how citizens take part between elections.
Civic Life and Institutions
The rights, duties, and independent institutions that make up day-to-day civic life.
State Government and the States
How the states are organized, plus a guide page for every state and the U.S. territories.
American History Surveys
Long-form histories that support U.S. history and government courses, from the founding era forward.
Symbols and Foundations
The flag, the pledge, and the anthem, with the history and the text behind each.
How the content is sourced
Pages are researched from primary and authoritative sources, the text of the Constitution, federal statutes, official Supreme Court opinions, agency publications, and government records, and each page lists the sources it draws on so students can go straight to the underlying material. The site does not run contributed or sponsored content.
Pages are reviewed before publication and updated as offices, office-holders, budgets, and laws change. The About page explains who writes and reviews the content and how corrections are handled.
Copy and paste for your class
Plain text you can drop into a Google Classroom announcement, an email to families, or a course syllabus.
Short version, for a Classroom announcement
We The People (usgovexplained.org) is a free website that explains how the United States government works: the three branches, the Constitution, elections, the fifty states, and American history. I will post links to specific pages for assigned reading. No account or login is required.
Longer version, for a syllabus resource list
Supplemental resource: We The People (usgovexplained.org). A free, ad-free reference covering the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; the Constitution and its amendments; the federal departments and agencies; elections and voting; all fifty states and the U.S. territories; and topics in American history. Individual pages may be assigned as reading throughout the course. Each page has a stable web address and cites the primary and authoritative sources it draws on, including the Constitution, federal statutes, Supreme Court opinions, and government records. No student account, subscription, or software is required.
Questions from teachers
Do students need an account or login to read the pages?
No. Every page is free and open, with no sign-in, no paywall, and nothing to install. You can paste a page link directly into Google Classroom, a slide, a document, or any learning management system, and students open it like any other web page.
Can I assign a single page instead of the whole site?
Yes. Every page has its own permanent address, so you can assign one page as a reading, a warm-up, or a review without sending students to a landing page first. Published page URLs are kept stable, so a link you post this year should still work next year.
What reading level is the content written for?
Most pages are written for a general audience and work from about middle school through introductory college survey courses. The longer explainer sections, timelines, and primary-source excerpts are well suited to high school and up, including AP and dual-enrollment government courses.
How current is the information?
Pages are reviewed and updated as offices, office-holders, budgets, and laws change, and each page lists the sources it draws on so students can check the underlying material. See the About page for how the content is researched and reviewed.
Can students share, quote, or print the pages for class?
Yes. Link, quote with attribution, and print freely for classroom use. The primary-source documents the site quotes, such as the Constitution, federal statutes, and Supreme Court opinions, are public record and can be reproduced without restriction.
How do I suggest a topic or report an error?
Use the contact form and mention that you are an educator. Corrections are prioritized, and teacher requests help decide which topics get built or expanded next.
Suggest a topic or report an error
If a topic your course needs is missing, or you spot a mistake on any page, use the contact form and mention that you are an educator. Corrections are prioritized, and teacher requests help decide which topics get built or expanded next.