Friday 12/6 & Monday 12/9: 2.9 Judicial Branch

Lesson 2.9: Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch

Enduring Understanding:

The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the exercise of judicial review in conjunction with life tenure can lead to debate about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s power.

Essential Knowledge:

Precedents and stare decisis play an important role in judicial decision making. 

Ideological changes in the composition of the Supreme Court due to presidential appointments have led to the Court’s establishing new or rejecting existing precedents.

Debrief 2.14: Nancy's making moves!

Activity # 1: 

ASAP Writing (in your notebook)

Passages from Federalist #78, Written by Alexander Hamilton, 1788

The judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution . . . [it] may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments.

For there is no liberty, if the power of judging be not separated from the executive and legislative powers.

Activity #2: 

Supreme Court Stations

In your notebooks, title the activity "Supreme Court Stations."  Then travel to each one of the stations in the hallway and complete the activity to learn about the Judiciary.  If you are absent, you can find the stations below.

Supreme Court Stations

Activity #3: 

Scenario - What Would You Do?

Complete written response in your notebook.

 Activity #4: 

TIP-C

Activity #5: 

Nifty-Fifty Vocab: Define in your notebook

Amicus Curiae Brief

Stare Decisis

Judicial Review

Write of Certiorari