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State and Local Government
Session 3: State Government, Judicial Branch
Materials
- Handouts of the sample chart. Teacher should alter the chart as desired.
Instructional Activities
- Review with students the content covered to this point in the unit.
- Divide the students into groups, and instruct each group to develop a chart that depicts the organization of the Virginia judicial system. Provide resources in the classroom to assist students. The chart may include the following information and should be large enough to be displayed in the classroom during class discussion. Students may find the following Web site helpful: <http://www.courts.state.va.us/>.
Virginia’s Judicial System
The process for selecting judges to Virginia’s courts is: __________________________
______
______
Levels of Courts in Virginia
Court Role of court
Supreme Court _____________________________________
Court of Appeals _____________________________________
Circuit Court ______________________________________
General District Court _______________________________________ |
- When groups have completed the chart, conduct a discussion of each type of court. Ensure students understand the difference between the following:
Civil and criminal cases (Provide examples of the types of trials. For example, MacDonald’s hot coffee is a civil case but a murder trial would be a criminal case. Explain that in a civil trial, plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages. In a criminal trial, prosecutors are seeking jail time and fines.)
Misdemeanor and felony (Discuss the differences in dollar values and potential jail sentences that define a misdemeanor and a felony.)
Original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction
Also ensure students understand which courts would have a jury trial and which would not.
- Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity using available teacher resources.
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