Chapter 19 Civil Liberties: First Amendment Freedoms

Research Paper

Chapter 19 Civil Liberties: First Amendment Freedoms

Chapter 20 Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Chapter 21 Civil Rights: Equal Justice Under Law

This paper is designed to afford you the opportunity to research a selected United States Supreme Court decision relative to the topic area of your choice. Posted under Unit Five The Judicial Branch, on my web page on the school web site, are the court cases from each of the aforementioned chapters for your review. The attached Court Decision Analysis Chart is not available on the site. Please use it to assist you in constructing your paper. This Chart will be due no later than Thursday, May 22, 2013. The Final Paper is due on Thursday, May 29, 2013.

Please follow the following format in writing and constructing your paper.

1. General Background of the case including the facts as presented.

2. The Judicial Arguments. Be sure to include the arguments made by both sides.

3. What are the questions and points considered by the court.

4. What is the national political, social and economic situation during the time period in question? Be sure to address why this case may have been brought before the court during this period.

5. Address the points made by the majority of the court as written by the Justice who wrote the majority opinion. Include any concurring opinions and of course be sure to note any dissenting opinion.

6. Most importantly what has been the short term and/or long term impact of the case on the court system(federal, state and local) further be sure to assess the cases impact on the American political, social and economic situations.

7. The paper should use Tahoma Font, 12 point type size, 1” margins top/bottom and left/right on the page. Include a Cover Page and annotated bibliography. Add appendix if needed. The length of the paper should be 4-6 pages in length and does not include cover page, bibliography or appendix.

Web Sites – The following web sites may be useful in researching and writing your paper. Also please go to the Media Center Page on the school web site. Select eBook Reference Collection. Scroll to Law/Government for sources that will be of use to you.