Learning by Hearings Resources
We want to inspire students to value fact-finding, good governance, and bipartisan cooperation as well as to sharpen their investigative skills and their ability to engage in public policy debates with civility.
Check out our free materials!
- Congressional Simulation
- Our signature 4-day lesson where students participate in a simulation of a state-level oversight investigation
- Defining Congressional Oversight
- Enumerated vs. Implied Powers
- How the Media Connects Oversight to the Public
U.S. History Materials
With these materials, students will learn about Congress’s first investigation in 1792. General St. Clair had just suffered a terrible military defeat, and President Washington demanded to know why.
Use these materials to teach students about the groundbreaking work of the congressional investigation into the Ku Klux Klan conducted during Reconstruction.
These materials review two concurrent investigations which led to the birth of food safety regulations during the Progressive Era.
This video discusses one of the most infamous political scandals of the twentieth century: the Teapot Dome scandal.
With these materials, students work together to analyze the findings of Ferdinand Pecora’s investigation into the stock market crash of ‘29.
This snapshot explores the dangers of unchecked power and political fearmongering through the lens of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s infamous anti-communist crusade in the 1950s.
This snapshot delves into the Senate’s investigation into when the Watergate scandal shook the nation.
With these materials, students will explore the importance of trust in the relationship between Congress and the Presidency.
Civics Materials
Our Congressional investigation simulation is a 4-day lesson where students will participate in a simulation of a state-level oversight investigation about a scandal or problem in Michigan. Students will:
- Learn about government accountability and transparency and how these concepts relate to oversight
- Research and prepare for a hypothetical state-based scenario using a contemporary issue
- Conduct a full mock hearing that includes questioning witnesses and identifying solutions to complex issues
These materials will introduce students to the concept of congressional oversight.
With this lesson, students will understand the ways in which Congress’ power extends beyond its enumerated powers.
In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between the media and oversight investigations.
