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Lectric Law Library

Lectric Law Library: Understanding the Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
This document provides an overview of the organization, operation, and administration of the entire federal court system. The article gives information on the federal judicial branch, the state and federal courts, the structure of the...
Article
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: Relationship of State and National Legal Systems

For Students 9th - 10th
This lengthy essay describes the balance between state and federal judiciary courts and touches on independence, integration, power limits and immunities.
Activity
Other

Federal Judicial Center: Inside the Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
A fantastic overview of the federal court system of the United States can be found here. Read about what the federal courts do, the difference between federal and state courts, the types of cases handled by federal courts, the structure...
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...
Activity
Other

Understanding the Federal Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
A ten part publication which describes the federal court system, its structure and organization, what types of cases they hear and much more. You can also download a PDF version of the document.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Courts of Appeals and District Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the structure and purpose of the Courts of Appeals and District Courts.
Website
Other

Litigator's Internet Resource Guide: The Rules of Court

For Students 9th - 10th
A database of the rules, forms, and dockets for both the state and federal court systems.
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Article Iii: Federal State Courts Relations

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource shows the relationship between the Federal and State Courts as stated in Article III of the U.S. Constitution. This annotated text details issues like problems raised by concurrency, autonomy of state courts, and rules of...
Website
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Democracy in America: The Courts: Our Rule of Law

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit provides a comprehensive look into the value of the U.S. court system as a means to maintain the safety of American citizens. Offers video, readings, web resources, and activities.
Website
Other

Federal Judicial Center

For Students 9th - 10th
Travel throughout the Federal Judicial Center at this site. "The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency for the federal courts." This is a comprehensive site that outlines the publications, federal judicial history...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Objectives for this lesson include describing the structure and function of the Supreme Court, looking at important decisions, and discussing recent rulings and issues.
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.
Activity
Cato Institute

Cato Institute: Dewey J. Jones vs. the United States [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief of a court case where the petitioner argues that the Commerce Clause does not authorize Congress to make the arson of a private residence a federal crime, as it is already a state crime, and that police powers are assigned to the...
Activity
Cato Institute

Cato Institute: Congress, the Courts, and the Constitution [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
An analysis of the conflicting views on the fundamental role of the government of the United States, specifically on the relationship between the different branches of the federal government, and what the Cato Institute regards as their...
Interactive
US Mint

United States Mint: Branches of Power

For Students 3rd - 8th
Save the federal government from Oppressor Sam, and learn about the US Constitution to restore the three branches of government.
Graphic
Other

Us District Courts

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a comprehensive government site that links you to all of the district courts in the United States. It is easy to navigate and find necessary information. The large map helps you locate the district of your choice.
Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Federal Intervention in Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes President Grover Cleveland's role in sending federal troops to suppress the Pullman boycott, resulting in increased chaos from the...
Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Role of the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This essay describes the power of the Supreme Court to 'check' the actions of both the President and Congress, with some historic documentation.
Primary
Other

Supreme Court of the United States: Opinions

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Supreme Court of the United States contains links to opinion documents from the Supreme Court.
Article
Other

Unt: Deciding to Decide, the Law and Politics Book Review

For Students 9th - 10th
This informative review of "Deciding to Decide: Agenda Setting in the United States Supreme Court" by H.W. Perry, Jr. describes the process of Supreme Court case selection.
Graphic
Utah State University

American Journey: Comparison of Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
Two informative charts, one of which compares the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, the other which lays out the positions of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists concerning the Constitution.
Handout
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Lynch v. Donnelly (1984)

For Students 9th - 10th
The city of Pawtucket, R. I., annually erects a Christmas display in a park owned by a nonprofit organization and located in the heart of the city's shopping district. The display includes, in addition to such objects as a Santa Claus...
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Fourteenth Amendment Part Ii

For Students 9th - 10th
In this video segment from The Supreme Court, learn about the 1883 Supreme Court decision that marked the end of federal protections for individuals in states and the beginning of Jim Crow segregation.
Website
Other

Ccja: Guide to the Federal and Texas Bill of Rights and Individual Freedoms

For Students 9th - 10th
This guide contains excerpts and annotation for four historical government documents: the Federal Bill of Rights, the United States Constitution, the current United States Supreme Court Justices, and the Bill of Rights from the Texas...

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