1. Agenda- 9/1
Crash Course Government Video Worksheet- The Supreme Court (LS)
Unit 2 Lecture 2- The Supreme Court
Supreme Decision
HW: Finish Judicial Branch Pathway
GRAB A CHROMEBOOK AND THE WORKSHEET!

2. Crash Course Government The Supreme Court

3. Unit 2 Lecture 2 The Supreme Court
-What is the Supreme Court?
-How does it operate differently than other courts in the U.S.?

4. How does a case reach the Supreme Court?
The Court receives 8,000 cases a year, and only accepts about 100
Most are by writ of certiorari- a party in the lower court appeals the decision
A few are by certificate- a judge in the lower court sends it up for review
If the justices decide to take the case, it means it passed The Rule of 4- at least 4/9 justices agreed to hear it

5. How is the case reviewed by the Court?
Each lawyer must submit briefs- a detailed statement outlining their side of the case
The Court might request amicus curae briefs- information from experts or others involved in the case topic
After reading these, the Court holds oral arguments- each lawyer gets 32 minutes in front of the Court
Snyder v. Phelps

6. How does the Court decide a case?
The justices meet in conference each week to discuss the cases they have seen
The Chief Justice presides over the discussion, speaks first, and handles the vote
1/3 of cases are unanimous- the rest are divided
5/9 justices is a voting majority

7. How does the Court release their decisions?
If he is on the majority, the Chief Justice writes or assigns The Opinion of the Court
Otherwise, the most senior justice writes or assigns it
Majority Opinion- The opinion of the court, the one that matters
Concurring Opinion- agrees with the majority but for a different reason
Dissenting Opinion- disagrees with the majority

8. Review: Path of a Supreme Court Case
Writ of certorai
or certificate
Rule of Four
Briefs (Amicus
Curae Briefs)
Oral Arguments
(Solicitor General)
Conference
Opinions (Majority,
Concurring, Dissenting)

9. icivics Supreme Court Simulation
Now that you have learned about the process a case takes through the Supreme Court, you are going to experience that process in an icivics game called “Supreme Decision.”
Go to
Log in to the website
Go to our class and find the assignment, “Supreme Decision.”
Play the game, and make sure you complete it to receive credit. Take a picture of the certificate just in case.