Classroom Resource

Court Quest

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

7, 12

Overview

In this interactive game from iCivics, students will help people from around the country to navigate the U.S. court system. Students will distinguish between the federal and state court systems, identify the types and levels of courts within each system, and evaluate case scenarios to send citizens to the correct court. This game can be played during a lesson on court systems for reinforcement or after as an assessment.

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Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 7 - 7th Grade: Civics

SS10.7C.5

Compare duties and functions of members of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Alabama’s local and state governments and of the national government. (Alabama)

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.7C.5

Vocabulary

  • branches: executive, legislative, judicial
  • duties
  • functions
  • organization
  • jurisdiction
  • federal
  • districts
  • separation of powers
  • checks and balances

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The functions of each of the three branches of the Federal Government and the three branches of Alabama's government.
  • The functions of the local government.
  • The organizational structure of local, state and Federal Courts.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Locate state and federal political districts and geographic districts in Alabama on a map.
  • Cite evidence in primary source documents to support important concepts of American Government.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The structure of government at the federal and state level and the unique duties and functions of each are set forth by the U.S. and Alabama Constitutions.
    Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 12 - United States Government

    SS10.USG.13

    Evaluate constitutional provisions of the judicial branch of government of the United States, including checks by the judicial branch on other branches of government, limits on judicial power, and the process by which cases are argued before the United States Supreme Court.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:SS10.USG.13

    Vocabulary

    • strict/loose construction
    • impartiality
    • lower court
    • ideology
    • appellate court
    • landmark case
    • jurisdiction
    • judicial review
    • appointment
    • Supreme Court
    • opinion/decision
    • district court

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • How key landmark Supreme Court cases influenced the interpretation of constitutional rights of citizens and powers/limitations of American government.
    • The means by which judges interpret the meaning of the Constitution, including strict and loose construction.
    • The organization of the American court system, including the powers and limitations of each level and type of court.
    • The process by which Supreme Court justices are appointed, including the consideration of ideology and how such may impact future decisions.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Identify the effect by which landmark decisions change the interpretation of constitutional provisions and rights.
    • Illustrate the process by which a court case is initiated in a lower level court and can then later be decided by the US Supreme Court.
    • Critique the process by which political ideology becomes a factor in both the appointment process of judges as well as the decision-making process in deciding cases.
    • Analyze an excerpt of a Supreme Court decision to ascertain the constitutional interpretation evident as well as the impact it may have on a constitutional right or provision.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • The powers, limitations, and organization of the judicial branch of American government, including how these determine the means by which a case arrives to, is argued before, and is decided upon by the Supreme Court, helps shape the law in the U.S.
    Link to Resource
    https://www.icivics.org/node/853/resource?referer=curriculum/play/all&page_titl…

    CR Resource Type

    Interactive/Game

    Resource Provider

    iCivics
    Accessibility

    Accessibility

    Audio resources: includes a transcript or subtitles
    Graphics: includes alt tags or long descriptions
    Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
    License

    License Type

    Custom

    Custom License Type (URL)

    https://www.icivics.org/terms-use

    Comments or Notes

    iCivics is a free resource for teachers. Teachers can register for a free account to access additional resources. They can create a class to assign resources to students.

    Approved Date

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