Unit 3B – The Executive & Judicial BranchesDay 6: Structure of Judiciary & Jurisdiction

• WARM UP:– What experiences (if

any) have you or your family had with the court system?

• Turn in:

• Today’s Plan:– Warm Up – Quiz Review– Reading activity– Discussion/Notes– Crossword & Bingo

Quiz Review!

End of Class Quiz - #1

• ___________ is the authority of the Supreme Courts to decide whether acts of Congress and the President are constitutional or not.

• JUDICIAL REVIEW is the authority of the Supreme Courts to decide whether acts of Congress and the President are constitutional or not.

End of Class Quiz - #2

• Supreme Court opinions create ___________, which are legal rulings that guide future courts in deciding cases. Once established, these are rarely changed.

• Supreme Court opinions create PRECEDENTS, which are legal rulings that guide future courts in deciding cases. Once established, these are rarely changed.

End of Class Quiz - #3

• Marbury v. ___________ established the legal precedent of _________________.

1. Marbury v. Madison established the legal precedent of ___Judicial Review_______.

End of Class Quiz - #4

• In 1954, the Court ruled in _______________ that segregated schools are unconstitutional.

• In 1954, the Court ruled in _Brown v. Board_ that segregated schools are unconstitutional.

End of Class Quiz #5

• In its Brown v. Board decision, the supreme court overturned the precedent of separate but equal that it had established in the 1896 case ___________________.

• In its Brown v. Board decision, the supreme court overturned the precedent of separate but equal that it had established in the 1896 case _Plessy v. Fergusson_.

End of Class Quiz #6

• Because there are ____ Justices on the Supreme Court, _________ opinions must be supported by at least 5 Justices.

• Because there are _9_ Justices on the Supreme Court, _Majority_ opinions must be supported by at least 5 Justices.

End of Class Quiz #7

• True or false: you can serve on the Supreme Court ONLY if you have graduated from Law School.

• FALSE

End of Class Quiz #8

• A _________ interpretation of the constitution is based on the idea that we should read the Constitution as literally as possible. In other words, if the constitution does not grant a power, we cannot allow government to have it.

• A _STRICT_ interpretation of the constitution is based on the idea that we should read the Constitution as literally as possible. In other words, if the constitution does not grant a power, we cannot allow government to have it.

End of Class Quiz #9

• A _______ interpretation of the constitution is based on the idea that the constitution is a living document. In other words, as times have changed, we must read and interpret the constitution in the context of modern society.

• A _loose_ interpretation of the constitution is based on the idea that the constitution is a living document. In other words, as times have changed, we must read and interpret the constitution in the context of modern society.

Unit 3B – The Executive & Judicial BranchesDay 5: Supreme Court & Judicial Review

• Essential Question:– How is power divided

between the 3 branches of American government?

• Objectives:– I can explain the role of

the Supreme Court– I can distinguish

between original and appellate jurisdiction

This Week:

• Today – Federal Court System• Thursday – Balance of Power Review &

Controversial Cases• THURSDAY: TUTORING– This week: Research for current event essay– Next week: writing your outline & draft

• Friday – Unit 3 Exam: Includes 3A and 3B.• FRIDAY: Progress REPORTS– DO YOUR CONGRESS REFLECTION!!!!

“Judicial Department in a Flash”

1. Read and annotate the handout2. Do page 1 of the worksheet when done.

Article 3-Judicial Branch

Jurisdiction

• Original Jurisdiction– First court to hear a case

• Appellate Jurisdiction– Court reviews the

decision of a lower court

Original v. Apellate Jurisdiction• District Courts– ORIGINAL Jurisdiction

• First Federal court to hear a case (it might have already been to a state level court)

– Trier of facts – all evidence is considered in district courts

• Appeals Courts– Appellate jurisdiction

• Only reviews cases already decided at district level

– Constitutional issues:• Were the rights of the

accused violated by police or the district court?

• Was the trial fair at the district level?

• Did the District court properly apply legal precedent?

State v. Federal Jurisdiction

State• Most crimes• Most civil cases

Federal• Constitutional issues• Federal law• Disputes between states• Dispute between citizens

from different states• Dispute about Federal

treaties• If the Federal government

sues you

The State Courts

Most cases are handled by State Courts and never reach the Federal Judiciary

The Federal Courts• 3 Types of Federal Courts• Supreme Court• Federal courts of Appeals• Federal District Court

United States District Courts• Trials in federal district court are usually heard

by a judge.• Jury trials can also happen in district court

• Federal Court Jurisdiction: Bank robbery Counterfeiting Mail fraud Kidnapping Civil rights abuses

Circuit Courts of Appeals

The side that loses a case in district court may appeal to the federal court of appeals• In some rare cases, you can appeal directly

to the Supreme Court – but this is VERY RARE

Circuit Courts of Appeals

• The nation is divided into 13 Federal Circuits, each with about the same # of people• North Carolina is in the 4th Circuit, with

VA, SC, WV, and MD• three appeals court judges sit as a panel to

hear cases.• 2 of the 3 judges must agree• No juries in the court of appeals

Courts of Appeals• review a case for errors of law, not of fact

• All evidence must be presented in District court, before the appeal

• Appeals courts ONLY deal with making sure the law was followed properly and making sure that legal mistakes are corrected

Courts of Appeals• 3 outcomes in the Court of Appeals

• Uphold the District Court ruling• District court was correct.

• Reverse the District Court ruling• District court was wrong about some

or all of its ruling• Remand to the District Court

• “re” sends it to the District court with instructions to do it over.

The U.S. Supreme Court

• Appellate Jurisdiction– Cases already argued in

the Federal appeals court– Some cases appealed

directly from district court

– Cases appealed from Supreme Court of a state if that cse involves Federal law or the constitution

• Original Jurisdiction– Cases involving foreign

diplomats– Cases involving conflicts

between two states

The United States Supreme Court• In order for a case to be heard by the

Supreme Court, at least four justices must vote to hear the case.• Appeals to the court are called “writs of

certiorari”

The United States Supreme Court

When the court decides a case, it can:

• Affirm the decision of the lower court and “let it stand.”

• Modify the decision of the lower court, without totally reversing it.

continued…

The United States Supreme Court• Reverse the decision of the lower court, requiring

no further court action.• Reverse the decision of the lower court and

remand the case to the court of original jurisdiction, for either retrial or resentencing.

Crossword & Bingo

1. Complete the Crossword Puzzle

2. Create your bingo grid