Just the Facts:U.S. Constitution/Bill

Rating:
Summary: A Solid Constitutional Intro
Review: This documentary is a solid intro to U.S. Constitution. It is mostly about basic facts, and as such is aimed at a high school audience. There is little nuanced analysis of various Constitutional provisions. Its basic mission is to introduce the viewer to the Constitution, or to make sure that one remembers basic facts about it, if one has to take a relevant exam. If you teach a college course in American politics, as I do, then this video can be useful as a refresher on what the Constitution actually says. I am not a constitutional law expert, and the U.S. Constitution per se takes up one week of a sixteen week course, so I never explore the document in-depth. These tapes remind me of the basics, the foundation--and without such foundation the beautiful edifice of more elaborate knowledge cannot stand.

Rating:
Summary: Great for Any high school civivs teacher
Review: This is an excellent synopsis of the uniqueness, magnitude and importance of the U.S. Constitution. Taking the viewer through each Article and Amendment, these videos clearly and easily explain why the Framers found it important to separate and limit the powers of government and what each branch of government is responsible for providing to the American people. The controversy over state versus federal rights and individual protection from the government is also well presented. Filled with great pictures and footage, the Constitution and its amendments are outlined with the added comments of two articulate and insightful professors. The videos are easy to follow and lend themselves well to student note-taking. These are a definite asset to any government teacher's video library.

Rating:
Summary: Great for Any high school civivs teacher
Review: This is an excellent synopsis of the uniqueness, magnitude and importance of the U.S. Constitution. Taking the viewer through each Article and Amendment, these videos clearly and easily explain why the Framers found it important to separate and limit the powers of government and what each branch of government is responsible for providing to the American people. The controversy over state versus federal rights and individual protection from the government is also well presented. Filled with great pictures and footage, the Constitution and its amendments are outlined with the added comments of two articulate and insightful professors. The videos are easy to follow and lend themselves well to student note-taking. These are a definite asset to any government teacher's video library.

Rating:
Summary: Inadequate
Review: Woefully inadequate in explaining the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, this video comes off more like a remedial civics class than a serious study of the documents. I was very disappointed in everything about it. It is elementary American goverment at best. I advise the viewer that in want of something more - he or she simply go to college.