Curated OER
Reflections on Judicial Power - Part I
Students research the Constitutional provision for the Judicial branch of government. They examine different U.S. founder's positions on the relative strength of the judicial branch and act as a review court for Marbury vs. Madison.
Curated OER
Signed, Sealed and Delivered: Marbury v. Madison and an Independent Judiciary
Students research the judiciary branch of government, the way in which judges are appointed and the apparent loopholes and remedies in the legal process.
Curated OER
Investigating the Judiciary Act of 1789
Students research the Judiciary Act of 1789 including why it was needed and what it provided. They write a paper using all steps of the writing process outlining their findings.
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Federal Judiciary Act
An online resource on the Federal Judiciary Act that provides an explanation of the Act, an image of the document itself, and the text.
PBS
Pbs: How the Supreme Court Affects the Lives of Teens (Lesson Plan)
Objectives for this instructional activity include describing the structure and function of the Supreme Court, looking at important decisions, and discussing recent rulings and issues.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Relationship of State and National Legal Systems
This lengthy essay describes the balance between state and federal judiciary courts and touches on independence, integration, power limits and immunities.
Other
Understanding the Federal Courts
A ten part publication which describes the federal court system, its structure and organization, what types of cases they hear and much more. You can also download a PDF version of the document.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Tough Issues
Read about the change of plans when delegates to the Philadelphia convention decided to write a new constitution to replace the Articles of Convention. See the ideas delegates had to address concerns of large and small states.
Other
Federal Judicial Center: What the Federal Courts Do
U.S. government-sponsored site that provides excellent information on the distinction between civil law and criminal law. It is part of a larger website that is dedicated to explaining the workings of the federal judicial system....
American Bar Association
American Bar Assoc.: Separation of Powers, Connecting the Separate Powers [Pdf]
This instructional activity involves role-playing to help the students understand the separation of powers. [PDF]