Introduction

Enduring Knowledge: At the federal level, the judicial branch consists of three tiers of courts, each performing a different function.

Analyze the cartoon. Choose three characters or objects in the cartoon that stand out to you and describe the significance of each. Who or what does the woman represent? What point is the cartoonist trying to make concerning the law or system of justice?

Open Political Cartoon in a new tab | Political Cartoon text version

This 1903 illustration by S.D. Ehrhart is titled "Due process of law" (Library of Congress).

 

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • describe the organization of the Federal Court system.
  • trace the process of court cases moving through the judicial branch.
  • explain the structure and jurisdiction of the federal district courts.
  • explain the structure and jurisdiction of the federal courts of appeals.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Government objective(s): 13.1.

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R4, R7, W2, W4 and Collaborative Research Project - W5, W6, W7, W8, W9, W10.

 

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