1. The Judicial branch
Chapter 18
Flip Chart

2. Structure of the Judiciary
Read Chapter 18, Section 1, pages
Create a flow chart of the National Judiciary

3. Federal Court Jurisdiction
Complete the chart.
Federal Court Jurisdiction
Exclusive:
(Define)
Subject Matter:
Parties Involved:
Concurrent:
Types of Cases:
Original:
Which Federal courts have?
Appellate:

4. Federal Judges 1. How are Federal judges selected and by whom?
Answer these questions.
1. How are Federal judges selected and by whom?
2. What are the qualifications (formal and informal) for being a Federal judge?
3. What is the difference between judicial restraint and judicial activism?
4. What are the terms of a Federal judge?
5. What do Federal judges get paid?
6. What are the stipulations for their retirement?
7. How is a Federal judge removed from office?

5. Read Chapter 18, Section 1, page 526. List at least 7 court officers.

6. Inferior Courts Complete the Chart Name of Court and Number
Number of Judges on Each
Type of Jurisdiction
District Courts
(94)
Courts of Appeals
(12)
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of International Trade

7. Courts of Appeals Answer the following questions:
1. What does it mean to “ride circuit?”
2. What is the main concern of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?
3. What percent of Appellate Court decisions are appealed to the Supreme Court?

8. The Supreme Court
In groups of 3 or less, read Article III of the Constitution and answer these questions.
1. What is the job of the Supreme Court as described in Article III? (List their responsibilities.)
2. Does it say anywhere that the SCOTUS has the right or responsibility to determine whether laws are unconstitutional---meaning whether they violate or go against what is written in the Constitution?
3. Where is the term “judicial review” in the Constitution?

9. Judicial Review--Marbury v. Madison
Read “What is Judicial Review?” on pages 76 and 77 of Chapter 3.
Summarize Marbury v. Madison, 1803.
Who “won” the case?
What did the decision say about the SCOTUS?
Why is it still relevant today?

10. Supreme court Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court has both _________________ and _________________ jurisdiction.
What kinds of cases are heard by the Supreme Court in its original jurisdiction? 1. 2.
Is this a lot each year?

11. How cases reach the court
What is the “Rule of Four”?
Define writ of certiorari:
Define certificate:
Working in your group, create a flowchart showing the path taken by a specific case from a federal district court to the Supreme Court. Include the date and place where the case originated, the decision made by each court, how the case reached the Supreme Court, and the final decision made by the Court in the case. Choose from Engel v. Vitale, Tinker v. Des Moines School District, Gregory v. Chicago, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, and Wisconsin v. Yoder.

12. How the court operates What is the term of the Supreme Court?
Summarize each step of how the Supreme Court operates:
Briefs:
Oral Arguments:
Conference:
Opinions:
Read statements A-E on the handout. As a group discuss them and form a majority opinion.

13. Today’s supreme court
Who are the justices of our Supreme Court?
Name
Year Appointed
Appointed by which President
Chief Justice

14. Special courts
Read Chapter 18, Section 4 (p.538) and complete the chart.
Name of Court
Jurisdiction/Type of Cases

15. Current events
List and briefly describe two current events involving the Supreme Court.