Congress Investigates September 11, 2001
The 9/11 Investigation Lesson Plan
Designed for secondary students studying U.S. history or civics, the lesson uses the response to 9/11 as a case study for examining separation of powers and checks and balances during a national crisis. This lesson examines how the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 tested the constitutional system of checks and balances and impacted the relationship between Congress and the President. Following the attacks, the federal government faced immediate pressure to respond to a national security crisis while also investigating intelligence failures preceding the attacks. The Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 brought members of the House and Senate together in a bipartisan investigation of what the intelligence community knew before 9/11, what systemic problems contributed to the attack, and what changes were needed to improve national security.
Students engage with a range of primary and secondary sources to compare the government’s immediate response to 9/11 with its longer-term efforts to address the problems exposed by the attacks. Through source analysis, comparison activities, and evidence-based discussion, students examine materials including presidential speeches, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, excerpts from investigations of the attacks, timelines, maps, and later analyses of U.S. military action. Students consider how Congress and the President exercised their constitutional powers, and how congressional investigation and oversight attempted to address longer-term institutional failures.
This inquiry is guided by the Compelling Question: “How does a crisis test the Constitution’s checks and balances?” Students examine how the government reacted to the events of September 11 and investigate how that response impacted the president’s power to take military action. By comparing immediate decisions with their longer-term consequences, students evaluate how a crisis can alter the balance of power between branches of government. Ultimately, students use evidence from across the inquiry to argue how effectively the constitutional system of checks and balances functioned in the aftermath of 9/11.
This free download includes:
- Lesson Plan
- A two-day inquiry-based lesson that guides students through an investigation of the impacts of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, examining how the threat of terrorism influenced congressional investigations, executive actions, and public policy during the War on Terror. Students analyze evidence and evaluate the impact of government decisions on the balance of power between Congress and the President.
- Primary and Secondary Sources
- Excerpts from the US Constitution (1787) Selected sections from Articles I and II that focus on military action and powers
- Headlines, video, and first-hand accounts of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States
- Bush’s Address to Congress (9/20/01) Excerpts from Bush’s second national address following the attacks on 9/11 in which he announces the War on Terror and encourages national unity and action
- Authorization for the Use of Military Force (2001) Congressional action allowing retaliation for the attacks
- The 9/11 Commission Report (2002) Excerpts from the Executive Summary explaining congressional recommendations following the country’s first bipartisan and bicameral investigation.
- Featured headlines and commentary on the War on Terror
- Student Worksheets
- Students participate in a document anaysis and categorization activity that helps them explore a wide variety of sources. Students will read for information and find examples of congressional action, presidential action, cooperation, and checks and balances.
- Answer Key and Slide Deck
- Teacher support materials that provide sample responses, evidence-based explanations, and guidance for facilitating discussion.
In this lesson, students explore how the September 11 attacks prompted the first bicameral, congressional investigation in U.S. history and reshaped the balance of power between Congress and the President. They consider the following questions:
- How did people in the United States react to events on September 11, 2001?
- How did the government react to events on September 11, 2001?
- How did the response to September 11, 2001 expand the President’s power to take military action?
These questions help students connect primary source analysis to the larger issues of government accountability, national security, and the constitutional relationship between Congress and the President during a national crisis.
September 11th Snapshot
Designed for middle or high school civics and U.S. history classrooms, this snapshot provides students with an overview of the Investigation of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks while introducing key constitutional concepts such as checks and balances, congressional oversight, and national intelligence. As students read, they evaluate historical events and consider how government institutions respond when the need for quick government action is at odds with slow and deliberative decision-making.
Our snapshot of the 9/11 Commission is a classroom-friendly version of our Portrait in Oversight on the same topic. Each of our snapshots is a brief summary of the historical investigation.
Each download includes:
- Comprehension Questions
- These questions guide students through the key events of the 9/11 Commission investigation, explore who the leadership was, and identify the main findings of the report.
- Discussion Questions
- These prompts encourage deeper analysis by asking students to consider the importance of bipartisanship during times of crisis and the tension that is sometimes created by checks and balances.
- Answer Key
- Teacher support materials that provide clear responses to both comprehension and discussion questions, making it easier to review student work and facilitate classroom discussion
- Audio Recording
- The audio version presents the full snapshot narrative in an accessible format, allowing students to listen to the historical account of the 9/11 Commission. This supports different learning styles and can be used for independent review or group listening.
- Spanish and Arabic Translation
- Translated material ensures broader classroom accessibility and support for multilingual learners and inclusive instruction.
What Was the 9/11 Joint Inquiry?
The Joint Inquiry leadership strove for consensus. It worked because they were respectful of each other, they were willing to work together to reach agreement even on difficult issues, and they understood, in the wake of the attacks, how important what they were doing was to the country.
On September 11, 2001, the terrorist group Al-Qaida hijacked four commercial airplanes and carried out attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 3,025 people, making it the deadliest attack of its kind on American soil, and led to the first-ever joint investigation by the House and Senate intelligence committees.
The Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 was formed to investigate the intelligence failures that led to the attacks. Led by Democratic Senator Bob Graham and Republican Representative Porter Goss, the so-called “Big 4” leadership team was rounded out with Republican Senator Richard Shelby and Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi. This bicameral and bipartisan inquiry, the first of its kind, aimed to figure out what the intelligence community knew or should have known prior to 9/11, identify systemic problems, and recommend improvements to prevent future attacks.
The Joint Committee findings ultimately led to the creation of the 9/11 Commission. Their final report recommended streamlining intelligence agencies to strengthen our national security. The War on Terror expanded beyond just retaliation for 9/11 to include military action and anti-terrorism efforts in many nations and forever changed the balance of power between our executive and legislative branches.
Content Standards
This lesson plan aligns with Michigan social studies content standards and supports instruction in U.S. history and civics by helping students analyze how the attacks on 9/11 and the response to terrorism have altered American international policies.
All Learning by Hearings materials are fully funded by the State of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Education.
MI USHG – 9.2.2 9/11 and Responses to Terrorism – analyze how the attacks on 9/11 and the response to terrorism have altered American domestic and international policies.
MI Civics 3.1.4 – Examine and evaluate the effectiveness of the role of separation of powers and checks and balances in regard to the distribution of power and authority between the three branches of government.
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