Head of State brings the Executive Branch of the U.S. government alive by asking students to role-play as candidates for President and Vice President of the United States or as members of the Press Corps, and explore critical-thinking questions focused on real-time national public policy issues. The winning candidates will take the oath of office as President or Vice President, give an inaugural address and hold a news conferences. In addition, the President will sign legislation into law as needed.

Head of State can be taught safely online or onsite, and offers flexible options and time frames that you can choose to best meet your goals and schedule.

This optional curriculum is designed to complement what students learn from their textbooks and other reliable sources about the workings of our nation’s represen­tative democracy. It does not replicate the actual process used in Congress to enact laws due to time limitations, nor does it ask students to identify with a political party. We encourage students to use the U.S. Constitution as a moral compass to guide them toward policies that deliver equal justice for all. 

Each topic in the Head of State poll will be active for three weeks. Licensed educators and students also have access to blended lesson plans that provide all the instructions necessary to conduct Head of State  in their classrooms – either onsite or online. To further enrich each lesson, educators also have the option of asking their students to engage in service-learning by participating in a National Polling Project and documenting these projects in video.

Note: Anyone above the age of 13 can sign in and vote in our weekly polls. Students will need to register with an active link from a Licensed Educator to gain access to all classroom resources, including blended lesson plans and grading rubrics. Learn more >