Introduction

Enduring Knowledge: The Supreme Court has had an enormous impact on constitutional interpretation through its decisions in several historical landmark cases.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law..." I will bet that most of you could finish the quote. We have all heard it many times in movies and on our favorite television series. Why do police officers always give this exact speech when they arrest someone? Must a person be read their rights when they are arrested? We will learn more about the case involving "Miranda Rights" and other landmark Supreme Court decisions in this lesson.

A U.S. Border Patrol agent working.

U.S. Border Patrol agent reads Miranda rights to a man being arrested for transporting drugs.

Lesson Objectives

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

  • identify landmark case decisions and their impact on our nation including modern cases that have changed the political landscape in America.
  • identify the importance of the Supreme Court under Marshall, Warren, Burger, and Rehnquist.
  • continue work on the collaborative project.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Government objective(s): 13.2.

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

 

    Next Page