High School Government Session 4 - Judicial Branch Focus

Note:  While not required, it would be helpful for students to participate in High School Government Flex Sessions 1, 2, and 3 prior to this class.

In this eight week flex course, students will grow in their understanding of the judicial branch of government.  Students will learn and contemplate the way in which justices are chosen for the Supreme Court, recent controversies surrounding this process, and the implications of lifetime appointments.  The way in which the size of the Court can be altered, and the importance of judicial review will be explored.  Students will gain an understanding of strict and loose interpretations of the Constitution, and will walk through historic Supreme Court decisions.
Lecture videos utilizing power point slides will be posted weekly for students to view.  Some lectures will have worksheet study guides to fill in, and some will require learners to practice note taking skills.  Students will receive outside homework and quizzes via the class discussion stream to help reinforce class lessons and solidify the information they are learning.  An end of session evaluation will be provided to parents upon request for your student's portfolio/records.
Students will be asked to contribute to thought discussions posted in the classroom twice a week.  This dialogue will allow students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills as they work on articulating views and listening to the ideas and opinions of others. 
Students will engage collectively in a 'RECONSTRUCTING THE COURT' project.  Students will present proposals via the class stream of changes to the appointment process to the Court, the size, and term of the Court.  Class participants will vote on their preferences and our class version of the Supreme Court will be shared.


Session 1 - Judicial Branch Overview 
                   Current Supreme Court Justices
                   Impact of Lifetime Appointments

Session 2 - Making the Court
                   -Process of becoming a Supreme Court justice
                   -Current events: controversies surrounding recent Supreme Court appointments during election years

Session 3 - Growing the Court
                    -How can the size of the Supreme Court change?
                    -FDR and Packing the Court

Sessions 4 - Constitutional Principle of Judicial Review and MARBURY v. MADISON

Session 5 - Constitutional interpretations
                     -Strict v. Loose interpretations

Session 6 -  Bill of Rights 
                     -Review session to prepare for analysis of historic Supreme Court decisions

Session 7 - Historic Supreme Court Decisions
                     -PLESSY v. FERGUSON
                     -DRED SCOTT v. SANFORD
                     -KOREMATSU v. U.S.


Session 8 - BROWN v. BOARD of EDUCATION
                            

Students should have the ability to do basic writing in order to take notes, do the in class worksheets, and complete short answer questions.  The age range for this class is 14-18 year olds and is best geared towards high school age students.

Students are highly encouraged to continue on to United States Government - Session 5.