Class Update

• All 8 U.S. War & Conflict Scenario Analysis Worksheets will be due on Tuesday, 4/1 (A-Day) & Wednesday, 4/2 (B-Day).  Students will receive their remaining 2 analysis worksheets today (3/26) and tomorrow (3/27).  All 4 analysis sheets should be stapled together and should cover WWI (completed in class), WWII, Korean War, Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, Iran Hostage Crisis, Gulf War I, and Gulf War II.  This assignment will be worth 30 points, and will be the first grade of the 4th quarter.
• Our next test on Foreign Policy is scheduled for Monday, 4/7 (B-Day) & Tuesday, 4/8 (A-Day).  Students will receive a study guide (not for a grade) on Wednesday, 4/2 (B-Day) & Thursday, 4/3 (A-Day).

Class Update

• The Scenario Analysis Worksheets for WWI, WWII, and the Korean War will be due on Wednesday (A-Day) & Thursday (B-Day).
• All students that are eligible to recycle received their recycling packet on Monday & Tuesday.  These packets will be due on Wednesday (A-Day) & Thursday (B-Day).

Tissues Needed!

It's that time of the year again!  We have officially run out of tissues.  If anyone would like to bring some in, it would be greatly appreciated!!  Thank you!

Spring Break Update & Extra Credit Opportunity

• Students that scored a 40/60 or below on their Judicial Branch/Legal Process test will be given a chance to recycle their grade before the end of the 3rd quarter for up to a 70% (42/60).  All students will receive a recycling packet on Monday, 3/24 (A-Day) and Tuesday, 3/25 (B-Day).  The packets will be due back to me no later than Wednesday, 3/26 (A-Day) and Thursday, 3/27 (B-Day).
• After the test, all students received a guided reading sheet and lesson review assignment on U.S. Foreign Policy (Chapter 8, Lesson 3).  For students that were unable to finish this assignment in class, it will be due on Friday, 3/14 (B-Day) and Monday, 3/24 (A-Day).
• With the 3rd quarter coming to an end, the previously mentioned grades (Judicial Branch/Legal Process Test & U.S. Foreign Policy Assignment) will be the last grades entered for the 3rd quarter.  For students still in need of a few extra points, please take advantage of the extra credit opportunity listed below.

Spring Break Extra Credit Opportunity

Landmark Supreme Court Cases (WORTH 25 POINTS)

PART 1 – Create a picture portraying one of the landmark Supreme Court cases listed below.  Your picture can be painted or drawn.  For those that don’t wish to draw, you can create a picture collage using images from magazines or newspapers (NO printed pictures).  The picture/collage should be completed on a small poster board.

PART 2 – Write a one-page summary of the court case explaining the back-story of what originally happened, how the case ended up in the Supreme Court, and what type of connection it has to the Constitution/Federal Law.  This paper must be typed, written in 12-point font, and double-spaced.  (The paper must also be written in your OWN words.  Any plagiarized papers will result in a referral.)   

1. Marbury vs. Madison
2. Plessy vs. Ferguson
3. Brown vs. Board of Education 
4. Gideon vs. Wainwright
5. Miranda vs. Arizona
6. In re Gault
7. Hazelwood vs. Kuhlmeier
8. United States vs. Nixon
9. Bush vs. Gore
10. District of Columbia vs. Heller

DUE ON MONDAY, 3/24 (A-DAY) & TUESDAY, 3/25 (B-DAY)

Judicial Branch Study Guide

Our Courts and Legal Systems

Study Guide

1.     What are the different types of federal courts?

2.     3 verdicts from an appeals case are….

3.     What document/article establish the Supreme Court?

4.     How does the power of judicial review act as a check on the legislative and executive branches?

5.     Judges base their decisions based on ___________ set in other cases.

6.     What is a felony? Example?

7.     What is a misdemeanor? Example?

8.     What two cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction over?

9.     What are the steps in a civil case?

10.                        What are the steps in a criminal case?

11.                        What law codes have influenced our laws?

12.                        What are the 6 types of laws?

13.                        What practice did the outcome of Plessy v. Ferguson protect?

14.                        What practice did the Supreme Court make unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education?

15.                        Which Supreme Court case ruled that if a defendant could not afford a lawyer, the state must provide one?

16.                        The Supreme Court made its ruling on Miranda v Arizona based on which amendment?

17.                        How many justices are on the Supreme Court?

18.                        What types of opinions do the justices write? Why do they write opinions?

19.                        Study the chart on the back.

20.                        What does it mean to nullify a law?

21.                        What kinds of cases are heard by district courts?

22.                        What is a statute?

23.                        What is the name for the person who files a lawsuit?

24.                        Who is the person being sued?

25.                        Explain what a complaint is.

26.                        What is a crime?

27.                        Who is the plaintiff in a criminal trial?

28.                        What is a summons?

29.                        What are the three levels of the federal courts system?

30.                        How many lower courts are there?

Weekend Update

• The "Landmark Supreme Court Case" chart will be due for periods 5B & 8B on Monday, 3/10 (period 7B is working on a separate presentation assignment) and for period 1A on Tuesday, 3/11 (periods 2A & 3A have already turned theirs in and received a grade).  Students will be provided some time in class to complete this assignment.
• Part 2 of the "Landmark Supreme Court Case" chart will be a 10 point extra credit opportunity.  If you choose to take advantage of this opportunity, it will be due on Monday, 3/10 (5B & 8B) & Tuesday, 3/11 (A-Day).  The directions read:
• Choose one of the above cases you researched and found interesting.  Write an extended response on "If I had been a Supreme Court justice, I would have ruled...."  Use facts and details of what you learned to support your opinion.

• Period 7B will be making their Landmark Court Case presentations on Monday, 3/10.

• Our next test will be on Wednesday, 3/12 (B-Day) & Thursday, 3/13 (A-Day).  It will cover the Federal Judicial Branch, Criminal & Civil Court Process, & Landmark Supreme Court Cases.  All students will receive a study guide on Monday, 3/10 (B-Day) & Tuesday, 3/11 (A-Day).  The study guide will not be a grade.

Legal Process Assignment

All classes (except 1A) began working on their "Legal Process" assignment in class on Monday, 3/3 (and B-Day will receive their assignment on Tuesday, 3/4).  The assignment will be due on Wednesday, 3/5 (A-Day) & Thursday, 3/6 (B-Day).  The directions are listed below (chapters are also provided for students using an online textbook).

The Legal Process

Directions: Using the front and back of a sheet of paper, show the legal steps involved in a criminal case (Pg. 441, Ch. 16) and a civil case (Pg. 435, Ch. 16). Put the criminal process on one side and civil on the other side. Not only do you need to include the steps involved, but also include the amendment that gives the accused person protection (Pg. 422, Ch. 15).