From court to court (9 min.) -- The last word (8 min.) -- Politics on the bench (10 min.)
Summary
Examines the role of courts as institutions dedicated to conflict resolution, with the power to apply and to interpret the meaning of law in trial and appeal courts. Reveals the difficulty of creating a judiciary that is independent of politics and the increased power the Supreme Court has acquired through its use of judicial review. Case studies include the trial of Rodney King and the ensuing L.A. riots, the Supreme Court decision in the Bush/Gore presidential election, and the appointment of Joyce Bird as Chief Justice of California
Analysis
Social studies
Notes
Series covers topics of civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions recommended by The Civics Framework for the National Assessment of Educational Progress developed by the U.S. Department of Education
Companion web site includes topic overviews, readings, critical thinking activity and web-based resources for each program
Performer
Hosted by Renée Poussaint
File Type
Graphic file (Streaming video; 27 min.)
Notes
High school
9-12
Mode of access: Windows Media Player, World Wide Web
