Welcome to The Dirksen Congressional Center's Communicator -- a web-based e-newsletter providing educators with news and ideas to enhance civic education and improve the understanding of Congress -- http://www.webcommunicator.org

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NEWS FROM THE DIRKSEN CENTER
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Dirksen Center Grand Opening

On September 26-28, 2003, more than 600 people attended Grand Opening events as The Dirksen Center officially opened the doors to its new facility. Invited guests heard remarks from Dirksen Center Board President Doug Crew, former House Republican Leader Robert H. Michel, and current 18th district Congressman Ray LaHood who announced his decision to donate his papers to The Center's $1.6 million facility.

The new Dirksen Center facility is located on the east side of Pekin, Illinois, at 2815 Broadway. For information and photos of The Center,
visit: http://www.dirksencenter.org/dcbuildingprojectfinished.htm

Growing Online Subscriptions

Today we have more than 12,000 subscribers who receive our monthly e-newsletter, Communicator. The Center uses the Communicator to deliver content to educators, to alert them to features of our Web suite, and to test ideas for future programs.

Thanks to everyone for your interest!

Perspective on Civil Liberties

The terms "civil liberties" and "civil rights" are often confused and used interchangeably, although their definitions differ. Link to our CongressLink glossary to find an easy way to distinguish civil liberties from civil rights and help your students understand the terms. Find Civil Liberties at: http://www.congresslink.org/glossary.html#C

Our present understanding of civil liberties has developed over time. Our AboutGovernment monthly hot link offers extensive information on a number of issues related to civil liberties and individual rights. Find American Civil Liberties Union at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/citizenship.htm

Civil liberty protections to individuals in the states were extended through the Fourteenth Amendment (1868). Introduce our CongressLink lesson plan, Teaching the Amendments, to help students gain a sense of their rights as United States citizens, as well as the reality that many rights are limited and controversial. This lesson can be found at: http://www.congresslink.org/lessonplans/amends.html

Amending the Constitution is another CongressLink lesson plan that goes beyond the well-studied amendments contained in the Bill of Rights and offers students insight into the changes the Constitution has undergone. Find this lesson at: http://www.congresslink.org/lessonplans/amending.html

Although the Bill of Rights and the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantee every citizen certain freedoms and rights, does the Fourteenth Amendment "incorporate" the protections of the Bill of Rights and make them enforceable against the states? Help your students learn more about the Fourteenth Amendment and the incorporation debate by visiting AboutGovernment. Find The Incorporation Debate at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/historicaldocuments.htm#billofrights

During the processing of former House Republican Leader Robert H. Michel's papers, staff discovered several copies of a compilation of quotes from Mr. Michel. On October 22, 1986, during a speech before Illinois students, the Congressman warned, "Don't take this freedom you have for granted. It has to be fought for and worked for on a daily basis." Find this quote and others included in the Michel collection at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/rhmquotes.htm

Featured Grant-funded Project

This month we aren't featuring a single grant-funded project. Instead we are extending an invitation to you to participate in one of our grants programs -- the Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants Program. If you'd like to develop lesson plans or student activities about the Constitution, or amendments, or even ideas for new amendments, then consider applying for a grant. Find information about the Robert H. Michel Civic Education Grants, including a sample grant proposal and a list of previously awarded grants at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantmichelciviced.htm

Take the fast, fun, and informative quiz, How Free Are We? found on Congress for Kids: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/billofrights/2_billofrights.htm

Freedom or Fortune?

1. Which constitutional amendment grants Americans a "right to privacy"?

A) First Amendment
B) Fourth Amendment
C) Fifth Amendment
D) Sixth Amendment
E) No amendment; it's not listed in the Constitution

2. A minority of justices has wanted to apply the first eight constitutional amendments to the states through the due process clause, a position called total _____.

Answers to the September issue of Fun, Facts, and Trivia link here:
http://www.webcommunicator.org/funfactstrivia0903ans.htm

Happy Halloween! Encourage your colleagues to subscribe to the Communicator. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, contact Cindy Koeppel at mailto:ckoeppel@dirksencenter.org Your feedback makes a difference!