National Government: The Judicial Branch
Session 1: Introducing the Judicial Branch

Materials

• Overhead projector or board

Instructional Activities

1. Ask students to respond to the following questions in their notebook:
   
   What is justice? Who are some individuals or groups who help establish justice in our society? What would our society be like without laws and the court system?
   
   Student responses may vary; however, responses should center on the judicial branch interpreting the law. Should students have a difficult time thinking of how our country would be different, suggest that students think about how the government was operated under the Articles of Confederation. Explain to students that Article III of the United States Constitution pertains to the Judicial Branch.
   
   
2. Create a class list of the responses.  Do not correct the student's responses.
   
   
3. Solicit responses from students to determine the name or the position titles of the head of the judicial branch. Remind students to consider the function of the branch when trying to determine who is in charge of the judicial branch.
   
   
4. Have students perform a book scavenger hunt to locate the title of the head of the National Court System and the title of all other national court officials. (The title given to the head of the National Court System is the Chief Justice. All other members of the Supreme Court are referred to as Justices.)
   
   
5. Continue the book scavenger hunt to locate the qualifications of the National Court System.
   
   
6. Have students identify in writing the benefits and drawbacks of a lack of formal qualifications required for becoming a Supreme Court Justice or Chief Justice. Explain to students that Article III of the United States Constitution pertains to Federal Court System.
   
   
7. Homework: Have students make a list of the things in their daily lives that they believe might have been influenced by Supreme Court decisions.