Mr. Beat
Going to Prison For Criticizing the Government | Debs v. United States
In episode 13 of Supreme Court Briefs, Eugene Debs gives a speech criticizing war and praising socialism. He promptly gets arrested for breaking the Sedition Act, and spends the next several years fighting for his freedom.
Mr. Beat
The Supreme Court Case That Led to The Civil War | Dred Scott v. Sandford
In episode 11 of Supreme Court Briefs, a slave fights for his family's freedom after they live in free states for a while.
Mr. Beat
Why You Can Buy The Next President | Citizens United v. FEC
In episode 10 of Supreme Court Briefs, a corporation argues it has the right to spend as much money as it wants on a political campaign because of the First Amendment.
Mr. Beat
Why You Get a Lawyer If You Can't Afford One | Gideon v. Wainwright
In episode 9 of Supreme Court Briefs, a man can't afford a lawyer, struggles to defend himself in court, gets convicted of a crime he didn't commit, writes a letter, and everything turns out all groovy.
Mr. Beat
Do You Have to Say the Pledge of Allegiance? | West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
In episode 19 of Supreme Court Briefs, a bunch of Jehovah's Witnesses don't salute the American flag nor say the Pledge of Allegiance, and almost everybody else freaks out about it.
Mr. Beat
Strengthening the Second Amendment | D.C. v. Heller
In episode 27 of Supreme Court Briefs, a gun ban in the District of Columbia gets challenged, and the Supreme Court seriously looks at the 2nd amendment for the first time in nearly 70 years.
Mr. Beat
The Federal Government Gets More Power | Gibbons v. Ogden
In episode 16 of Supreme Court Briefs, two dudes fight over whether or not one can operate his steamboat in New York. In the end, the federal government just gets more power.
Mr. Beat
Why Stop-and-Frisk is Legal | Terry v. Ohio
In episode 55 of Supreme Court Briefs, an undercover detective stops and frisks three men who were acting "suspiciously" outside of a jewelry store. Was that an invasion of their Fourth Amendment rights?
Mr. Beat
Can You Burn An American Flag? | Texas v. Johnson
In episode 7 of Supreme Court Briefs, a dude named Johnson burns the American flag and the whole country seems to freak out. Does the First Amendment protect flag burning?
Mr. Beat
Where Do Your Miranda Rights Come From? | Miranda v. Arizona
In episode 6 of Supreme Court Briefs, you have the right to remain silent. Mr. Beat looks at the origins of the Miranda rights. I'll give you a hint- they are named after a guy named Miranda.
Mr. Beat
Are Tomatoes Fruits or Vegetables? | Nix v. Hedden
In episode 5 of Supreme Court Briefs, Mr. Beat looks at that one time the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether tomatoes were fruits or vegetables. No joke. For the record, Mr. Beat hates tomatoes. John Nix was one of the most...
Mr. Beat
Is Prayer Allowed at Public School? | Engel v. Vitale
In the third episode of Supreme Court Briefs, Mr. Beat examines the first of many Supreme Court cases dealing with the separation of church and state- Engel v. Vitale. The state board of education said that students were to open each day...
Mr. Beat
Does Congress Have Implied Powers? | McCulloch v. Maryland
In the second episode of Supreme Court Briefs, Mr. Beat makes one of the most boring Supreme Court cases in American history somewhat more interesting. It was, after all, QUITE A FREAKING BIG DEAL. Washington, D.C. 1816 The United States...
Mr. Beat
A Legal Slave Uprising? | United States v. The Amistad
In episode 37 of Supreme Court Briefs, a slave uprising on a ship called The Amistad leads it to the shores of the United States, where the Supreme Court eventually determines their fate.
Curated Video
The Supreme Court Thought Experiment
Philosopher Brian Epstein (Tufts) describes the celebrated ontological thought experiment of the Supreme Court.
Curated Video
A Supreme Example
Tufts University philosopher Brian Epstein describes how many people’s perspectives on the social world are prejudiced by a hidden assumption that he takes issue with, and uses the example of The Supreme Court to illustrate his point.
Curated Video
Duties of the Legislative Branch
Duties of the Legislative Branch discusses the structure and responsibilities of the legislative branch of government.
Curated Video
Building Better Models
Philosopher Brian Epstein (Tufts University) describes how we can use philosophical understanding to help build better, more rigorous models in social science.
Curated Video
3 Branches of Government Song
Learn the 3 Branches of Government in the U.S. by KLT App for iPhone & iPad
Curated Video
Article Three: Structure of Powers of Judicial Branch
Article Three: Structure of Powers of Judicial Branch explains the powers, responsibilities, structures, and functions, and processes of the judicial branch by analyzing Article III of the Constitution.
Curated Video
State Constitutions
"State Constitutions" shows the importance of a state constitution and how it works in conjunction with its national counterpart by breaking down the key branches.
Curated Video
Checks and Balances
"Checks and Balances" examines the process of checks and balances among the three branches of government by depicting the process and specific duties of each branch.
Curated Video
Sandra Day O’Connor: “Don’t Take the Bait”
The first female justice in the U.S. Supreme Court’s 191-year history, Sandra Day O’Connor succeeded in a man’s world by never letting sexism stand in her way.