The lesson opens with reflective questions that ask students to consider their knowledge of famous Supreme Court cases and rulings, the issues that the Court addressed last term and the last term’s impact, and potential issues that the Court may address during this term. Students then watch, analyze, and respond to an introductory video in which Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer talks about the process that the Supreme Court uses to select cases each term. Next, students engage in an activity where they choose to study three cases that will be argued in front of the Supreme Court during this term. Students will conduct additional self-guided research as needed to determine each case’s petitioner(s) and respondent(s), key issue(s), expected outcome, facts of the case, and question(s) before the court, presenting their findings to the class.
The Great Debate on the Constitution
This resource pairs the text of the U.S. Constitution with the Federalist Papers.
Interactions Between the Branches
Article III of the Constitution is short compared to the Articles for Congress and the President. In these lessons, students will explore different documents to determine what the role of the judiciary is and why it is important that it was set up to be independent. Students will explore past and present efforts to adapt
Nominating Federal Judges
The Constitution specifies that the President appoints judges with the advice and consent of the Senate. This lesson explores how that process works. The students will be able to explain the politics and political processes of court appointments, interpret and analyze relevant charts, and hone and refine essay composition skills.
Co-Equal Leader: The Role of the Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice has numerous responsibilities besides leading the Supreme Court. Explore the roles and responsibilities of the head of the Judicial Branch and examine the seventeen Chief Justices with a helpful infographic.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Court-packing Controversy -Video
In 1937 President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his plan to enlarge the Supreme Court to as many as 15 justices. Congress debated the merits of the plan and Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes opposed it. After 168 days the bill failed, but the lessons from the Court-packing episode are relevant today. This 15-minute documentary designed
Case Summary: Fletcher v. Peck
Explore the case that marked the first time the Supreme Court ruled a state law unconstitutional. This formative decision upheld the Commerce Clause and set the precedent that the Contract Clause applied to the states. Ideas included in the decision also shaped Native American property rights for the foreseeable future.
Lessons Plans for “Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Court-packing Controversy”
These lesson plans for basic high school and for AP US History have been created for students who have watched the video. They include activities such as analyzing part of the text of FDR’s Court-packing Plan, interpreting political cartoons reacting to the plan, and discussing the intersection of the three branches of government.
Immigration: Is History Repeating Itself?
This lesson offers your students the opportunity to dig more into the historical and contemporary status of immigration in America through examining primary source documents and engaging with multiple perspectives.
Foundations of Civics and Economics
This unit on civics fosters critical thinking skills in students as they engage with topics in government, democracy, and U.S. history, providing comprehensive lesson plans that encourage deep analysis, evaluation, and reflection on the principles and dynamics of civic life.