Project: Analyzing a Supreme Court Case

• Objectives:

Students will be able to research, write and present a Landmark Supreme Court Case.

Students will be able to assemble and clearly communicate a logical presentation using computer technology (i.e. PowerPoint).

• Originality:

All parts of your project must be original with you. If a student copies any part of another student's research, writing, graphic or presentation, both students will receive a failing grade for his/her project.

If a student copies any part of their research, writing, graphic or presentation from any source (books, internet web sites, etc.) and fails to give credit to that source in their works cited or bibliography page that student will receive a failing grade for his/her project.

• Content pages:each of the following content items must have an adequate written response and should be addressed in your PowerPoint presentation. Each of the following must have its own page.

Case name:Choose from the list of cases on the last page

Facts of the case: (summarize the story behind the case... you are telling a story)

Lower court verdict: What court or courts heard this case before the U.S. Supreme Court (name each court and verdict)

Petition before the Supreme Court:What were the arguments for the plaintiff?

What were the arguments for the defendant? (minimum of three arguments for each)

Relief sought:What the plaintiff really wants is...in plain English what does the plaintiff desire?

Majority decision of the Court: what was the decision?

What was the Supreme Court vote in the majority?

What date for the majority decision?

Which justices voted for the majority? Who wrote the majority decision?

Describe the majority opinion...

Were there any concurrent opinions written? by whom?

How are the concurrent opinions different from the majority opinion?

Dissenting opinion(s):

What was the Supreme Court vote in the dissent?

Which justice wrote the opinion for the dissent?

Describe the dissenting opinion...

Were there any concurrent opinions written by whom?

How are the concurrent opinions different from the dissenting opinion?

Importance/significance of this case:

Did this case change/add to/take from the Constitution or any of the Amendments? If so, how?

Does this case remain relevant or has it been superseded by another case?

If it has been superseded, name the case and tell how your case changed the preceding case?

• Graphic portion:

Project must have a visual or graphic that will contribute to your presentation. Do not submit a PowerPoint with plain, white slides.

Potential SC Cases - study cases to determine which you would like - You must choose from this list

1. Brown v Board of Education, 1954
2. Bush v Gore (2000)
3. California v Acevedo, 1991
4. Dennis v. United States (1951)
5. Dred Scott v Sandford (1857)
6. Engel v. Vitale (1962)
7. Escobedo v Illinois (1964)
8. Gideon v Wainwright (1963) (background Betts v. Brady, 1942)
9. Gitlow v New York (1923)
10. Gonzales v Raich (2005)
11. Greedwood v California (1988)
12. Gregg v Georgia, 1976
13. Hazelwood School District v Kuhlmeier (1988)
14. Katz v United States, 1967
15. Korematsu v United States (1944)
16. Mapp v Ohio (1961)
17. Miranda v Arozona (1966)
18. Near v Minnesota (1931)
19. New York Times v United States (1971)
20. Olmstead v United States (1928)
21. Plessy v Ferguson (1896)
22. Powell v Alabama (1932)
23. Regents of the University of California v Bakke, 1978
24. Roe v Wade, 1973
25. Schenck v United States (1919)
26. Sheppard v Maxwell (1966)
27. Slaughterhouse cases (1873)
28. Tinker v Des Moines (1969)
29. United States v Nixon (1974)
30. Wallace v Jeffree, 1985