Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Judiciary Act of 1789

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students research the Judiciary Act of 1789 including why it was needed and what it provided. They write a paper using all steps of the writing process outlining their findings.
Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

The U.S. Supreme Court

For Students 6th - 12th
How do Supreme Court justices determine which cases to consider? What happens when the Supreme Court decides not to take a case?  The lesson explores important questions and others in the field of criminology. It focuses on the...
Interactive
2
2
Judicial Learning Center

The Power of Judicial Review

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Marbury v. Madison is arguably the most important landmark case in the history of the Supreme Court. A fact-filled lesson provides background information about the case and two others related to the concept of judicial review. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Landmark Supreme Court Cases And The Constitution

For Teachers 11th
Have an engaging class discussion on the Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution, and the Supreme Court. Learners examine multiple aspects of the Marbury v. Madison case and the impact that case had on the judicial system in the U.S. Web...
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Federal Judiciary Act

For Students 9th - 10th
An online resource on the Federal Judiciary Act that provides an explanation of the Act, an image of the document itself, and the text.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Judiciary Act of 1789

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Act establishing the organization of the U.S. federal court system, which had been sketched only in general terms in the U.S. Constitution. The act established a three-part judiciary-made up of district courts, circuit courts, and the...
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Federal Judiciary

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on the federal judiciary in the United States.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: 1789 Judiciary Act

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Features a summary and interesting facts about the 1789 Judiciary Act that established the U.S. court system.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the jurisdiction of the Federal Court system. The site breaks the court's jurisdiction into three main areas of institutional conflict: Federal Restraint of State Courts by Injunctions, Habeas Corpus: Scope of the...
Website
George Washington University

Birth of a Nation: The First Federal Congress 1789 1791

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhaustive look at the first Congress during George Washington's presidency. Find out about the precedents that were set and the interpretations that had to be made about the new Constitution. A fabulous site from George Washington...
Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: History of the Supreme Court

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives insight into both the creation of the U.S. Supreme Court as well as its transformation to its present state. Throughout the text links can be found which lead to various Supreme Court topics and information.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Challenges Facing the Nation

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The new United States had no blueprint to follow in establishing a new democratic government. Read about the challenges facing the new nation, and how it dealt with ways to make the government work.