Nearly every president has had the opportunity to name a nominee to the United States Supreme Court. But what makes someone an ideal candidate to become a Supreme Court justice? High schoolers test their prior knowledge about the Supreme...

Nomination, approval, and appointment—these are the three major steps in becoming a Supreme Court justice. But the process is much more meticulous than that. View a video that explains the rigorous process a person must endure before...

Young scholars explore Supreme Court cases that featured Civil Rights issues. In this Supreme Court lesson, students examine primary source records regarding Rosa Parks, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the Browder v Gayle case, in order...

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 appeals...

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...

People often hear the words precedent and Supreme Court together, but why? A resource on the Supreme Court includes a variety of discussion questions, handouts that guide young historians, a video about Nixon and the court system, and...

What is a civil case? Who appoints members to the US Supreme Court? What is the ultimate goal of sentencing juveniles? Here is a 15-question multiple-choice assessment on law and the court system in the United States.

You have the right to remain silent. The Dickerson Case questions the constitutionality of those words from the Miranda Rights. A short video clip allows scholars to ponder the idea of reading someone their rights when arrested. They...

Twelfth graders explore the role of the Judicial Branch. For this U.S. government lesson, 12th graders take notes on how the courts have changed over time and then become observers of the court's history as they create timelines that...

Equal protection under the law for every citizen—what prompted this civil right? The Fourteenth Amendment pushes individuals, as well as the Supreme Court, to examine the need for the privileges and immunities following the Civil War....

Twelfth graders explore the role of the Judicial Branch. In this U.S. government activity, 12th graders discuss the qualifications and responsibilities of Supreme Court Justices. Students then take notes on the structure of the court.

If the Supreme Court is so supreme, why do all cases not just start there? High schoolers learn why every case does not start at the Supreme Court as well as the importance of hierarchy in the US judicial system in the 11th installment...

Imagine being an ex-slave after the Civil War and not understanding if you were considered a citizen of the United States. Scholars analyze the early Supreme Court battles in civil rights cases and especially the Fourteenth Amendment....

Consider five Supreme Court cases and how their outcomes have directly affected the American population. Government students research and compose a 1-2 page pager outlining the examples of our daily life that have specifically been...

What does freedom of religion mean? Analyze a series of Supreme Court cases where the First Amendment right to freedom of religion was put to the test. They discuss the cases' outcomes and argue whether the right decision was made....

Examine the Supreme Court case, District of Columbia vs Heller, to build a better understanding of the Bill of Rights. Learners visit three different websites, read the provided informational text, and then answer a series of critical...

What do FDR, the New Deal, and the Supreme Court have in common? All three were involved in a court case that granted a maid back wages, so she received the minimum wage at the time—a case in which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of...

Did you know that the Supreme Court has the power to reverse lower court rulings? Class members watch a video, engage in discussion, and read background material for more information about Minersville School District v. Gobitis, a case...

What was Nixon's strategy when dealing with the Supreme Court? Find out using a strategic resource. Pupils view a video about Nixon, read background information about judicial nominees for context, and engage in discussion regarding...

The relationships between civil rights and the Supreme Court is a long, complicated chapter from American history. Pupils view a video, engage in discussion, and read background information to learn about the steps the highest court in...

Federalism may sound to some like one, big vocabulary word ... but it is much more than that. A short video introduces class members to the powers associated with the Supreme Court and its role in balancing the powers under federalism.

How did the Supreme Court apply the Fourteenth Amendment to cases involving working people? Learn all about labor rights in a resource that focuses on the liberty of contract and protections for workers. Scholars complete handouts that...

How did the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment affect worker's rights? Discover why it is so important using an enlightening resource. Learners watch a video about worker's rights, read background information...

While World War II changed the international order, it also led to a fundamental shift in the concept of civil rights within the United States. Using a video and discussion questions, class members consider the effects the war had to the...