Wonderscape
The Role of the Supreme Court
Discover the critical role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution and determining the legality of laws through judicial review. Learn how Supreme Court justices are appointed, how they review cases, and how their decisions...
Wonderscape
The Structure and Role of the Judicial Branch
Explore the structure of the judicial branch, which consists of three levels of federal courts: district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. Learn how the judicial branch clarifies the laws of the United States and handles...
Wonderscape
The Establishment of the Judicial Branch
Discover how the judicial branch of the United States was created following the Revolutionary War. Learn how the Constitution established the Supreme Court and how Congress shaped the structure of the judicial system, including the...
Mr. Beat
Protecting Extreme Speech | Snyder v. Phelps
In episode 76 of Supreme Court Briefs, the Westboro Baptist Church decides to protest a dead soldier's funeral with signs like “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” “God Hates Fags,” “You’re Going to Hell,” and “God Hates America.” The dead...
Mr. Beat
How the Supreme Court Made It Easier to Get a Gun | McDonald v. Chicago
In episode 77 of Supreme Court Briefs, an old dude wants to buy a handgun to defend his home after it is robbed, but Chicago won't let him. So he sues their butts.
Wonderscape
Understanding the 11th Amendment: A Key Change in U.S. Constitution
Discover the significance of the 11th Amendment, ratified in 1795, which addresses sovereign immunity and limits the ability to sue states in federal court. Originating from the case of Chisholm v. Georgia, this amendment highlights the...
Wonderscape
The 14th Amendment: Citizenship, Equal Rights, and Civil Liberties
Discover the impact of the 14th Amendment, a key Reconstruction Amendment that played a crucial role in reshaping the American legal landscape post-Civil War. This amendment redefined citizenship, guaranteeing equal protection and due...
Wonderscape
Understanding the Judicial Branch in US State Government
Delve into the powers and responsibilities of the judicial branch in state government, including the role of the state supreme court and lower courts. Learn how the judiciary interprets laws and ensures they align with the state...
Curated Video
Native American Reservations, Explained.
How did Native Americans end up on Reservations? We explore the complicated relationship between the Indian Nations and the United States of America. Watch Tai Leclaire breakdown all you need to know about the Reservation system and why...
Curated Video
Democratic Laws
Dr. Forrester reviews how a democratic government works. She discusses why laws are enacted and the process involved in passing a law.
Curated Video
Terms of Office
Dr. Forrester talks about our three-tiered form of government. She gives an overview of each branch of government and discusses how officials are elected.
Curated Video
Supreme Court
Sitting at the pinnacle of the judicial branch of government, the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Its landmark rulings have had an enduring impact on American life and law.
Curated Video
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
The top ranking officer of the US federal judiciary, the Chief Justice presides over the US Supreme Court. But how did the role come into being and what are his or her roles and responsibilities?
Curated Video
In re Gault: Juvenile Rights
In re Gault was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that ensured juveniles accused of a crime would receive the same Fourteenth Amendment rights as adults. It all stemmed from a teenager making a prank call.
Curated Video
Mapp v. Ohio: Illegal Search and Seizure
Mapp v. Ohio was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that safeguarded the Fourth Amendment right to privacy after a Cleveland woman was wrongly convicted following an illegal search of her home.
Curated Video
Marbury v. Madison: What is Judicial Review?
The U.S. Supreme Court decides if laws made in the United States violate the Constitution or not. It’s called judicial review and it’s a power that was granted to the Supreme Court by the Supreme Court itself – thanks to a landmark case...
Curated Video
Branches of Government
The federal government of the United States of America is split into three separate and distinct branches. But what do the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary do and why are they necessary?
Curated Video
Korematsu v. United States: Was Internment Legal?
Korematsu v. United States was a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision made in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It established that the U.S. government could intern Japanese Americans during WWII as a result of Executive...
Curated Video
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier: Free Speech in School
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to free speech. But when student journalists in Missouri wrote a series of articles on teen sex and divorce in 1983, their school appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court for the...
Curated Video
Serving Justice
Mr. Griot demonstrates writing an essay comparing and contrasting two biographies using a Venn diagram and a paragraph organization chart.
Wonderscape
Brown vs. Board of Education and School Desegregation
This video discusses the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education and its impact on desegregating American schools. It highlights Linda Brown's story in Topeka, Kansas, the legal battle led by Thurgood Marshall, and the resistance to...
Wonderscape
The Impact of Nonviolent Protests in the Civil Rights Era
This video recounts the story of the four students who staged a sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter in 1960, igniting a wave of nonviolent protests across the South. It discusses the broader context of the Civil Rights Movement,...
Wonderscape
Landmark Cases Defining the Bill of Rights
This video discusses key Supreme Court cases that have shaped the interpretation of the Bill of Rights in the U.S. It covers Gideon vs. Wainwright (6th Amendment), Miller vs. Alabama (8th Amendment), and Bond vs. United States (10th...
Wonderscape
The 7th Amendment Explained: Rights in Civil Cases
This video explains the 7th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, focusing on its role in safeguarding individual rights in civil court cases. It differentiates between criminal and civil cases, and discusses the historical context and...