C-SPAN Classroom

Tuesday, February 19, 2019
The History of National Emergencies and the Expansion of Presidential Powers

Independent Institute Senior Fellow Ivan Eland discussed the history of national emergencies and presidential emergency powers. He spoke about the powers found in the Constitution, the National Emergencies Act and the expansion of presidential powers.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Friendship 7: John Glenn Orbits the Earth

On this day, John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the earth. In a flight lasting just under five hours, he orbited the earth three times in a spacecraft named Friendship Seven. View this collection of videos to hear from John Glenn about the space race as well as to learn about his youth, the mission and his legacy.
Friday, February 15, 2019
President Trump Declares National Emergency at U.S.-Mexico Border

President Trump announced that he is declaring a national emergency to address the situation on the southern border with Mexico. He also acknowledged and thanked family members of victims killed by immigrants who entered the country illegally.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Speaker Pelosi's Response to President Trump's Plan to Declare a National Emergency

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded to the news that President Trump would declare a national emergency to build barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. An explanation of the 1976 National Emergencies Act and the possible actions that opponents to the declaration could take are also included in this clip.
Monday, January 14, 2019
What are National Emergency Declarations?

Matthew Dallek talked about the history of national emergency declarations as President Trump considered that designation in response to congressional Democrats' refusal to grant his demand for funds to build a U.S-Mexico border wall.
Thursday, February 14, 2019
School Safety and Crisis Response

Dr. Amy Klinger of the Educator’s School Safety Network talked about school safety and crisis response on the anniversary of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
Monday, February 11, 2019
An Explanation of the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

Los Angeles Times immigration reporter Molly O’Toole talked about the debate in Congress over the border wall funding and the issue of detention beds for detained immigrants.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Presidential Emergency Powers in the Constitution

University of Virginia Law Professor Saikrishna Prakash spoke about what the Constitution says about emergency powers.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Reactions to the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

In response to the proposed deal between lawmaker to avert another government shutdown, lawmakers and pundits spoke about the negotiations and their opinions on whether President Trump should sign it. The deal provides $1.375 billion in funding for physical barriers in addition to funding for other border security measures. A clip of Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) and reactions from Rep.…
Thursday, February 7, 2019
House and Senate Democrats launch Green New Deal

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with several other House and Senate colleagues, launch their Green New Deal at a news conference on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. The Green New Deal seeks to address the issues relating to climate change.
Friday, February 1, 2019
An Explanation of the Political Situation in Venezuela

Michael Matera, Americas Program Director at the Center for Strategic & International Studies discussed the political situation occurring in Venezuela after the contested reelection of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Address

President Trump delivered the 2019 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The address was originally scheduled for January 29, 2019, but was postponed due to the partial government shutdown.
Friday, April 6, 2018
How Presidents Have Interpreted the Role of the Presidency

Article II of the Constitution gives the President of the United States the power to execute laws. The powers and the role of the presidency are loosely defined by the Constitution. Because of this, individual presidents throughout the history have used their own interpretations of presidential authority to shape the role of the office. This lesson has students explore how six presidents…

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Tuesday, February 19, 2019

The History of National Emergencies and the Expansion of Presidential Powers

Independent Institute Senior Fellow Ivan Eland discussed the history of national emergencies and presidential emergency powers. He spoke about the powers found in the Constitution, the National Emergencies Act and the expansion of presidential powers.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Friendship 7: John Glenn Orbits the Earth

On this day, John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the earth. In a flight lasting just under five hours, he orbited the earth three times in a spacecraft named Friendship Seven.…

Friday, February 15, 2019

President Trump Declares National Emergency at U.S.-Mexico Border

President Trump announced that he is declaring a national emergency to address the situation on the southern border with Mexico. He also acknowledged and thanked family members of victims killed by…

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Speaker Pelosi's Response to President Trump's Plan to Declare a National Emergency

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded to the news that President Trump would declare a national emergency to build barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. An explanation of the 1976…

Monday, January 14, 2019

What are National Emergency Declarations?

Matthew Dallek talked about the history of national emergency declarations as President Trump considered that designation in response to congressional Democrats' refusal to grant his demand for funds…

Thursday, February 14, 2019

School Safety and Crisis Response

Dr. Amy Klinger of the Educator’s School Safety Network talked about school safety and crisis response on the anniversary of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Monday, February 11, 2019

An Explanation of the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

Los Angeles Times immigration reporter Molly O’Toole talked about the debate in Congress over the border wall funding and the issue of detention beds for detained immigrants.

Monday, February 11, 2019

Presidential Emergency Powers in the Constitution

University of Virginia Law Professor Saikrishna Prakash spoke about what the Constitution says about emergency powers.

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Reactions to the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

In response to the proposed deal between lawmaker to avert another government shutdown, lawmakers and pundits spoke about the negotiations and their opinions on whether President Trump should sign…

Thursday, February 7, 2019

House and Senate Democrats launch Green New Deal

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with several other House and Senate colleagues, launch their Green New Deal at a news conference on the grounds of the U.S.…

Friday, February 1, 2019

An Explanation of the Political Situation in Venezuela

Michael Matera, Americas Program Director at the Center for Strategic & International Studies discussed the political situation occurring in Venezuela after the contested reelection of Venezuelan…

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Address

President Trump delivered the 2019 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The address was originally scheduled for January 29, 2019, but was postponed due to the partial…

Friday, April 6, 2018

How Presidents Have Interpreted the Role of the Presidency

Article II of the Constitution gives the President of the United States the power to execute laws. The powers and the role of the presidency are loosely defined by the Constitution. Because of this,…

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The History of National Emergencies and the Expansion of Presidential Powers

Friendship 7: John Glenn Orbits the Earth

President Trump Declares National Emergency at U.S.-Mexico Border

Speaker Pelosi's Response to President Trump's Plan to Declare a National Emergency

What are National Emergency Declarations?

School Safety and Crisis Response

An Explanation of the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

Presidential Emergency Powers in the Constitution

Reactions to the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

House and Senate Democrats launch Green New Deal

An Explanation of the Political Situation in Venezuela

President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Address

How Presidents Have Interpreted the Role of the Presidency

The History of National Emergencies and the Expansion of Presidential Powers

Friendship 7: John Glenn Orbits the Earth

President Trump Declares National Emergency at U.S.-Mexico Border

Speaker Pelosi's Response to President Trump's Plan to Declare a National Emergency

What are National Emergency Declarations?

School Safety and Crisis Response

An Explanation of the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

Presidential Emergency Powers in the Constitution

Reactions to the Proposed Deal to Avert a Government Shutdown

House and Senate Democrats launch Green New Deal

An Explanation of the Political Situation in Venezuela

President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Address

How Presidents Have Interpreted the Role of the Presidency