American Government AP Name:
Chapter 10 – Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Docket: 2015-16
Points: 40
Supreme Court docket represents cases the court itself choose to review. Locate the current Supreme Court docket and review the cases that have been heard, an opinion has been issued. Select two cases, read them and address the questions listed below in paragraph format. Try to select cases other students are not reviewing.
· Who is currently on the Supreme Court and what are their political leanings?
· What are the names of the cases you selected?
· Are the final rulings broad or narrow? Explain.
· How did the court use precedent? If not used, why? How does the Court use precedent generally? How often is precedent overturned?
· Summarize the different opinions given in each case? Majority, concurring, minority, discenting.
· What constitutional issues were discussed?
· What did you learnabout the current court from reading these opinions?
· How many cases did the court agree to hear for 2015-16?
· Why do you think the court has chose to rule on these particular cases chosen for 2015-16?
American Government AP Name:
Chapter 10 – Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Docket
Constitutional law is taught textually. This means that many ConLaw professors read aloud from Court opinions quite extensively. The language and nuance of what the Court says in its opinions is very important. Choose a partner and each find the case you selected. Read to each other the actual opinions (majority, dissenting & concurring). Be able to answer the following questions for the class.
1. What type of language does the Court tend to use?
2. Are the rulings broad or narrow?
3. How did the court use precedent? How does the Court use precedent generally? How often is precedent overturned?
4. What different opinions were given in each case? How do they differ?
5. What did you learn about the current Court from reading these opinions?
6. What were the names of the cases?
7. How many cases did the court agree to hear for 2013-14?
8. What constitutional issues were discussed?
9. What type of cases did the court agree to review?
10. Why do you think the court has chosen to rule on these cases?
11. Who is currently on the court? Political leanings? Who appointed?