Unit 8
The Judicial Branch & Civil Liberties
Click here for our current project: On OUR Docket | Our WIKI pages here!
- Monday’s Docket: Edwards v. Indiana and Panetti v. Quarterman | Read Justice Profiles here.
- Tuesday’s Docket: Hudson v. Michigan, Illinois v. Caballes, and Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood
Wow! Justice Scalia in the news this week–take a look!
For the latest from the Supreme Court, click here: http://del.icio.us/CCsArk/supremecourt
View our profiles on the justices here: http://classof2009honors.wikispaces.com/supremecourtjustices
Guiding Questions: Civil Liberties
What are rights? Why do we have them? Who protects them?
How do we balance the rights of individuals versus the rights of society?
Should a wall of separation exist between government and religion? If so how high is that wall?
Is the right of expression absolute? Should it be?
Resources You Will Need
- First Amendment Center
- Oyez
- Medill: On the Docket
- The New York Times: The Supreme Court Page
- NPR: Legal Affairs
- Justice Talking
Topics: Civil Liberties
Topic #1: Civil Liberties
- What are they?
- Why do we have them?
- How have they been applied to the federal govt. and to the states?
Topic #2: Freedom of Speech—just how free is it?
- Why is free speech important in a democracy?
- What type of speech is protected? what type of speech is unprotected? why?
- How does the Court balance an individual’s rights with society’s rights?
Topic #3: Freedom of the Press—should the press ever be muzzled?
- Why is freedom of the press important in a democracy?
- Is this an absolute right? Should it be?
- What are shield laws? Should reporters be compelled to identify their sources? Focus on the Valerie Plame case.
Topic #4: Freedom of Religion—how high is the wall between church and state?
- Why is freedom of religion important in a democracy?
- How does the Court decide cases involving religion?
- Has the Court gone too far in separating church and state? Focus on Prayer in School
Topic #5: On OUR Docket: Criminal Rights & the Right to Privacy
Topics: The Judicial Branch
Topic #1: Intro to the Supreme Court Today (Interviews & Your PPTs)
- Who serves on the Court today?
- What are the judicial philosophies of the current Court?
- What are some issues which divide/unite the Justices?
Topic #2: The Structure of the Court & American Judges
- How is the American judicial system organized?
- What is an “adversarial system”? Does it work?
- How do cases get to the Supreme Court?
- Why are American Judges so powerful?
Topic #3: The Judicial Pathway of Action: Class Activity | Wiki Pages
- How effective is the judicial pathway of action? Do some groups benefit more from this pathway than others? Why?
- To what degree are judges bound by popular opinion?
Topic#4: Judicial Selection
- What role should the Senate play in the selection process?
Topic #5: Reading the Constitution: Thought Talk #4 (POV Chap. 13) (Stella, Chloe, Elizabeth) | Read the transcript of our discussion here.
- How should judges read the Constitution?
- Should a judge take into account his or her own political beliefs and/or ideology?
