Paul Sargent Makes History
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The Judicial Branch

YouTube Playlist

Introduction

As you are well aware, our government is divided into three separate and equal branches, each of which has the ability to check the power of the other branches. In this unit, we will investigate the final branch of government in this course: the federal court system.

Courts are designed to interpret laws and resolve disputes. They must determine what the wording of the law means and how it applies to very specific, real-life situations. This can be difficult, because life has a way of not falling into nice, easy to define categories. So the courts are in place to be the final word on what the wording of laws mean and whether or not they violate the Constitution.

The most visible component of the system is the Supreme Court. It sits at the top of the court system and has the final say in Constitutional matters. We will spend most of our time looking at the way the Supreme Court hears cases and how the judicial appointment process works. We will also look at the question of whether justices should follow the original intent of the framers of the Constitution (as best as they can figure it out) or whether they should interpret the Constitution taking into account the situation of 21st-century America.

How important is the judicial branch in the policymaking process? Well, judge for yourself.


Important Files

Judicial Branch Study Guide
File Size: 32 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Class Links

Supreme Court of the United States
The Oyez Project
iCivics: Argument Wars
​iCivics: Court Quest
iCivics: Supreme Decision

Homework Assignments

Assignment #1: Equal Justice under the Law

  • Read and take notes on chapter 7, section 1
  • Study guide questions 1-5
  • Key terms 1-9

Assignment #2: The Federal Court System

  • Read and take notes on chapter 7, section 2
  • Study guide questions 6-7
  • Key terms 10-15


Assignment #3: The Supreme Court

  • Read and take notes on chapter 7, section 3
  • Study guide questions 8-13
  • Key terms 16-20

Assignment #4: Study for the quiz

  • Review your study guide, notes, and handouts for all 3 branches of government
  • Re-watch any videos you think will help you understand
  • Bring notes and study guide for judicial branch to class to turn in

Paul Sargent Makes History

  • Home
  • My YouTube Channel
  • AP European History
    • Historical Reasoning Skills
    • Thematic Learning Objectives >
      • Interaction of Europe and the World
      • Poverty and Prosperity
      • Objective Knowledge and Subjective Visions
      • States and Other Institutions of Power
      • Individual and Society
      • National and European Identity
    • Concept Outline
    • Period 1: 1450-1648
    • Period 2: 1648-1815
    • Period 3: 1815-1914
    • Period 4: 1914-Present
    • Exam Review Resources
  • AP Government
    • Concept Outline
    • Constitutional Underpinnings
    • Political Beliefs and Behaviors
    • Linkage Institutions
    • Institutions of Government
    • Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
    • Exam Review
  • Government and Economics
    • Foundations of Government
    • The Constitution
    • Executive Branch
    • The Judicial Branch
    • Voting and Elections
  • My Blog