Round out your study of the branches of government with an in-depth look at the federal judiciary, one of the three branches of the federal government. The Framers believed the judiciary was the branch least likely to infringe on the liberty of the American people. Reflect on its role and its power, then review the most important constitutional law case in American History: Marbury v. Madison.

When the Framers gathered in Philadelphia to write a new constitution, they essentially were representing a loose federation of nation-states. Their original charge was to modify the Articles of Confederation, but there was a solid case for a strong central government. Examine this dilemma and the compromises that Madison and Hamilton made.

Shift your attention from the legislature to the chief executive, the single most powerful government official in the world today. But, as you'll learn in your exploration of The Federalist Papers, the Framers had a different view of the presidency. Review Alexander Hamilton's essays about the office and the powers of the president.

The Framers of the Constitution believed pure democracy was something to be feared for the way it would lead to the rise of factions, which would in turn tear apart the system. Was it possible to create a new model that offered the benefits of representative democracy without the problems of factions? See how the Framers tackled this conflict.

Understanding The Federalist Papers starts with understanding who wrote them and why they were written. In this opening episode, go back to 1787 to meet Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to find out what challenges they faced in communicating the need for the new US Constitution.

James Madison believed the legislature posed the greatest threat to the integrity of the system the Framers had so carefully designed. In "Federalist No. 48," "Federalist No. 51," and elsewhere, he laid out warnings about the legislature seizing too much power, as well as the solution of a bicameral legislature. Delve into this thorny issue.

This is the story of World War 2 as seen from Germany's supreme headquarters by the general who was at the center of power during one of history's most shattering periods. Hitler displayed uncanny military intuition but was incapable of carrying out professional military operations. Greedy for praise, he carefully picked the most spineless and sycophantic general officers. Surrounded by "yes men," he finally ran the war almost singlehanded.