Courts, Judicial Review, Independent Judiciary
These resources offer lessons, games, and reviews of how courts work, qualities of a judge, and concepts of separation of powers, judicial review, and an independent judiciary.
What is the Judicial Branch?
This lesson exposes young students to the judicial branch and the power of judicial review. They will read about an actual Supreme Court case, Torcaso v. Watkins, to see how the judicial branch used its power of judicial review to strike down an unconstitutional state law.
Qualities of a Judge
Another facilitated discussion for young students, this time about the qualities of a judge. This offers an opportunity to discuss characteristics of personality, character, work ethic, and even the educational path to becoming a judge.
What Makes a Good Judge?
This lesson focuses on the costs and benefits of various judicial selection methods. Students will list characteristics they think essential or valuable to being a good judge, and then see which system of judicial selection – appointment, merit, or election – obtains the highest quality judges. In discussing each method, students will understand the tradeoffs between accountability and independence in judicial selection.
Will the Court Hear this Case?
This activity takes one class period, and helps students understand that the U.S. Supreme Court’s jurisdiction is limited.
https://teachingcivics.org/lesson/claim-your-powers
Claim Your Power
This cooperative small group activity will involve students (grades 6-9) in small groups. Groups are assigned one of the three branches of government and points are awarded when groups correctly claim the branches power and/or checks the branch has over other branches. Students will claim powers based on their reading and application of the first three articles of the Constitution to hypothetical situations.
Branches of Power Game
iCivics has a game that will simulate the way separation of powers and checks and balances limit government, help students analyze the structure, functions, and processes of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and illustrate the law making process at the local, state, and federal levels
https://ed.icivics.org/games/branches-power
https://ed.icivics.org/teachers/lesson-plans/judicial-review
What is Judicial Review?
iCivics offers a thorough lesson plan that guides an educator through helping students to identify judicial review as a power of the U.S. Supreme Court, explain the origin and function of judicial review, recognize how judicial review impacts checks and balances, and emphasize how the courts have used judicial review to interpret the Constitution and extend its protections
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/john-marshall-marbury-v-madison-and-judicial-review
John Marshall and Judicial Review
This lesson curated by the National Endowment for the Humanities via the EdSitement database, is designed to help students understand Marshall’s strategy in issuing his decision, the significance of the concept of judicial review, and the lasting significance of this watershed case.
https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/marbury-v-madison
Marbury v. Madison and Power, Authority, and Governance
Teach students the significance of Marbury v. Madison which establishes the concept of judicial review. Five lessons from the U.S. Courts system are designed to be taught as stand-alone lessons or in a series. By the end of the unit, students will understand “power, authority, and governance.”
Civics 101 episodes on the Judicial Branch
https://www.civics101podcast.org/civics-101-episodes/judicialbranch This podcast series from Civics 101, produced by New Hampshire Public Radio, is billed as a “starter pack” for anyone of age youth to adult who wants to learn more about the courts.