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Grade 12, U.S. Government Std 11.3: Identifying the impact of landmark Supreme Court cases on Constitutional interpretation

Lesson Plans: Supreme Court Decisions. This activity is used in a required secondary American Government class in the middle of a unit on the federal court system and civil rights. The purpose of this activity is to help students understand how Supreme Court decisions affect all of us and on what the Supreme Court bases its decisions. Marbury v. Madison Students study the landmark Supreme Court case that established the precedent of judicial review. McCulloch v. Maryland Students study the landmark Supreme Court case that upheld Congress' implied power. Landmark Supreme Court Cases This site was developed to provide teachers with a full range of resources and activities to support the teaching of landmark Supreme Court cases, helping students explore the key issues of each case. Twenty cases are and ten judicial concepts are featured The Supreme Court: The Judicial Power of the United States Students analyze the Constitutional powers of the Supreme Court and debate the importance of an independent judiciary with the power of judicial review. How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens Students examine how the Supreme Court determines which cases to consider and the influence of Court decisions on the lives of students Power Grab Game. Students learn the Constitutional basis of the separation of powers and the powers held by each of the three branches of government.

Resources: Ben's Guide to American Government Interactive United States Constitution National Archives and Records Administration The United States Supreme Court (official site) The Oyez Project. Northwestern University's database of Supreme Court cases. American Civil Liberties Union Political Reference Almanac PoliSci.com The Great American Website Non-governmental site dedicated to providing access to the voluminous resources on the web. The National Constitution Center NCC was established by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the US Constitution, the Constitution's history, and the Constitution's relevance to our daily lives so that all of us -- "We the People" -- will better understand and exercise our rights and our responsibilities.
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