The Judicial Branch

Students will learn about the federal and state courts and what they do. They will explore the courts’ role in fairly settling disputes and administering justice, and the unique role of the U.S. Supreme Court in interpreting the U.S. Constitution.

View our Constitution Explained video series for short-form videos to share with students about the judicial and other branches of government.

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Lesson Plan

Supreme Court Nominations

This lesson plan teaches the fundamentals of Supreme Court Justice nominations and helps students understand the politics behind the nominations. It challenges students to cut through the politics and compare nominees’ judicial philosophies and includes an optional extension for students to research and analyze the controversial nominations and confirmation processes of Robert Bork, Harriet Miers, and Merrick Garland.iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this lesson are available in Spanish.
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Game

Court Quest

Navigate our court system and guide citizens to the right place.
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Game

Branches of Power

Learn to control all three branches of the U.S. government!
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Game

Argument Wars

Argue real Supreme Court cases, and put your lawyering skills to the test.
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Lesson Plan

Sources of Law

Where do laws come from? This lesson teaches students about the sources, types, and unique systems of law that exist in the United States. Students learn about sources of law from the Constitution to local ordinances. They also compare and contrast civil and criminal law and peek into the special systems of military and juvenile justice.
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Lesson Plan

Interpreting the Constitution

Students learn that you can't take constitutional language at face value. Those phrases we read in the Bill of Rights, such as "cruel and unusual punishment" or being a "witness" against yourself, have specialized meaning based on years of interpretation by the Supreme Court.Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
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Lesson Plan

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Students learn about the landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland, in which the Supreme Court clarified what kinds of actions Congress can take under the “necessary and proper” clause. Students find out what events led to this case, look at some examples of what “necessary and proper” could include, and examine the relationship between state and federal power under the Supremacy Clause.
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Lesson Plan

James Bond in a Honda (Mock Trial)

Students participate in a scripted fictional trial based on a real case in which the producers of James Bond films sued Honda for creating an ad that looked way too much like a James Bond movie. Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
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Game

Branches of Power

Learn to control all three branches of the U.S. government!
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Lesson Plan

Trial Court "Go Fish"

iCivics presents a judicial variation of the classic card game "Go Fish!" that features the various trial court jobs. Students use a write-on courtroom game board and play with cards that show the people involved in a trial--such as judges, court staff, attorneys, and litigants--and each of their roles. By trying to match people and roles to make pairs, students learn what trial participants do both in court and out of court.
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WebQuest

The Courts in a Nutshell

In this WebQuest, students look at all levels of both the state and federal court systems. They learn about jurisdiction, look up the courts in their own state, find out what federal appellate circuit they live in, and investigate the current U.S. Supreme Court justices.
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Lesson Plan

Double Take: The Dual Court System

Does your state court system feel oddly similar to our federal one? Chances are it does, but there may still be some differences. In this lesson, students learn how our country came to have a dual court system and explore how the state and federal levels of that system work. But wait, there's more! Reinforce key concepts using our Kahoot!Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
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Lesson Plan

Trial and Appeal (Infographic)

Most cases start and end in trial court, but what if there's an error? Show students how a case works its way up in this printable poster for your classroom!iCivics en español! A version of this infographic is available in Spanish along with a Spanish Teacher’s Guide.
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WebQuest

In the Courts

Our Judicial Branch has a big job! Do you think you have what it takes to be a judge and get the job done?
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Game

Branches of Power

Learn to control all three branches of the U.S. government!
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Lesson Plan

Judges: Playing Fair

This mini-lesson takes a look at the role of fair and impartial courts in American life. Students learn about how judges are selected and held accountable. It also looks at how judges focus on the facts in order to keep things fair. This resource is accompanied by a short video from the Informed Voters Project.
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WebQuest

Supreme Interpreters

What does it mean to interpret the Constitution? Why is interpretation necessary? Who gets to do it? In this WebQuest, students explore the answers to these questions and more. Using examples from the First and Eighth Amendments, students try their own hand at interpreting sticky situations—and compare their findings to actual Supreme Court opinions.** This WebQuest was formerly called “You Be the Judge.” It has been updated to offer students a deeper look at the Supreme Court's role interpreting the Constitution and to better complement our lesson “Interpreting the Constitution.” You do not…
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Lesson Plan

Stipulating Speech

What does the phrase “freedom of speech” really mean? This lesson outlines the types of speech the First Amendment does and does not protect. Students also examine the Supreme Court’s rulings regarding hate speech in five historic cases. After analyzing the decisions, students apply the Court’s reasoning to the issue of student speech codes on college campuses. The lesson also serves as springboard for a class discussion on these controversial questions: Do speech codes violate students’ First Amendment rights? Should public colleges allow hate groups to recruit on campus?
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Lesson Plan

Argument Wars Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Argument Wars. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you!
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Lesson Plan

Court Quest Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Court Quest. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! This Extension Pack uses Google Slides and is designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
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The Judicial Branch

Choose Grade Level:

Supreme Court Nominations

Court Quest

Branches of Power

Argument Wars

Sources of Law

Interpreting the Constitution

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

James Bond in a Honda (Mock Trial)

Branches of Power

Trial Court "Go Fish"

The Courts in a Nutshell

Double Take: The Dual Court System

Trial and Appeal (Infographic)

In the Courts

Branches of Power

Judges: Playing Fair

Supreme Interpreters

Stipulating Speech

Argument Wars Extension Pack

Court Quest Extension Pack

See how it all fits together!