Introduction
 
 

The Task
 
 

Situation 1
    You have been arrested for publishing a scandal sheet linking the school's administration to the mafia. You vaguely remember something in U.S. History class concerning a Supreme Court case dealing with this charge. (Hint: censorship)

Situation 2
    Your school newspaper advisor is on a long term leave of absence, so the students are writing the newspaper. Your principal has been proofreading the newspaper before it goes to press. In the recent issue, the principal has objected to several articles, and ordered that the articles be deleted before publication. The newspaper staff is fighting MAD!! Locate information on this issue and be prepare to present it to the Board of Education.
(Hint: Hazelwood School District)

Situation 3
    A group of your friends are very angry over a decision by the Superintendent over student dress ( they have mandated uniforms). Your friends are planning to protest at the next Board of Education meeting but someone has suggested burning a flag. Is this legal or illegal? (Hint: flag burning)

Situation 4
    Your biology teacher spent two days on the evolution theory but your religious beliefs differ and you want equal class time to present these views. You have a discussed this with the principal, the asst. superintendent and the superintendent. They said no. (Hint:Edwards)

Situation 5
    You have been arrested for distributing obscene materials through the mail. You mailed flyers of your new desktop phamhlet to all your friends and their families. The county sheriff said that you violated community standards by mailing obscene materials through the mail.(Hint: obscenity standards & CA)

Situation 6
    As part of the school's newspaper's staff you attend local court trials. Your best friend's brother is on trial for murder. You have been wanting to attend the trial. However this is the third trial for your friend's brother since the first two trial ended in a hung jury. The judge has ordered the case closed to all media and the jury sequestered. You'll dod anything to attend this trial how can you persuade a judge to allow the media into the court room. (Hint: Richmond Newspapers)

Situation 7
    Your religious leader mentioned during a meeting that today's society especially today's young people lacks spiritual guidance because pray has been eliminated from school. You have a prayer group at school however you must meet before school starts and it's held off the school grounds. You passionly believe pray would help alot of your classmates.(Hint: Engel)

Situation 8
    You recently rented the video The Fugitive.You loved it but you remember it was based on a TV show with the same name. Also at the end of the video it told about the real Sam Sheppard. Locate information on Samuel Sheppard and what does he have to do with Supreme Court cases? (Hint : Samuel Sheppard)

Situation 9
    You have just turned 18 yrs. old and registered for the draft however you violently opposed the concept of the draft and are planning to stage a protest by burning your draft card. Can you get arrested for burning your draft card and what does it have to do with the Supreme Court? (Hint : O'Brien)

Situation 10
    You're really interested in President Richard Nixon and Watergate. But you're confused about the term "classified information". What does it mean and why is it used with President Nixon? (Hint: New York Times)

Situation 11
    You have recently read the Communist Manifesto and truly believe it's message. You have been meeting with a small group of people who have similar views. The group has brainstormed varies ways to overthrow the U.S. government but the group hasn't developed a conscience. Suddenly the police raid your hang-out and arrest everyone, but you. How can you help your fellow comrades? (Hint: Hint: Yates)
 

Situation 12
    Recently an Amish family has moved into the community. There are seven children in the family and they attend a private Amish school that stops at the eighth grade. How can they do that!! You are required to attend school till your sixteen years old. Your guidance counselor has told you that you need a high school diploma or GED to get an entry level job. (Hint: Wisconsin)

Situation 13
    You have been arrested by the police for distributing a "left-wing manifesto" that calls for the establishment of new government through any form of action necessary. The First Amendment guarantees your right of free speech but the local sheriff said the New York State law charges you with advocating violent revolution against the government.
(Hint: New York)

Situation 14
    The School Board has announced changing the secondary school hours from 7:30a.m.-2:30p.m. to 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.. Since the majority of students work after school from 4:00p.m.-9:00p.m. three nights for more a week, this would leave little time for after school activities ex: sports, clubs, etc. Your student government has organized a protest march which will start at WHS and proceed to the Board of Education office. The march is quiet and orderly but outsiders have lined the streets and are heckling the marchers. The police are present to maintain order however fearing an outbreak of violent. The police ordered your group to leave the area. Your group slowly leaves but you're arrested later that day for disorderly conduct. (Hint: Gregory)
 
 

Resources
   The following is a list of websites you can click on and use in solving your situation.

      http://www.usscplus.com/info/index.htm -this website gives general information on the Supreme Court as an institution, its traditions, procedures, and the Justices.

    http://oyez.nwu.edu/-U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia Database, the Oyez project by Northwestern University provided information on cases, Justices, a Virtual Tour. You can search for cases by title, citation, and subject.

   http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/supcrt/- Search Supreme Court Decisions, 1937-1975. You can search cases by full text, case name or case number.

 http://www.fedworld.gov/supcourt/fsearch.htm- United States Supreme Court Decisions Full Text Searchs

http://www.usdoj.gov/kidspage/- provides information on different aspects of justice-like internet crimes, drug prevention and laws that protect your rights.
 
 
 

The Process
 

• You  will  select a situation which has some personal interest.
• Each situation is related to a Landmark Supreme Court case.
• Your job will be to locate that case through the websites given above
• Identify the type of freedom ( Assembly, Speech, Religion,Press)
• State the court's verdict and give a one sentence summary of the case
• You will present your case to the class either through oral presentation, Wordperfect presentations, a collage or etc. If you want to do something else, please get approval from Mrs. Birckett ahead of time.

1. 1.How many cases are filed with the Supreme Court each year?
2. 2 Why are Supreme Court decisions so important?
3. 3 On what day does the Supreme Court begin a new term?
4. 4 How much time does each side have to present their arguments?
5. 5 What is the criteria for the Supreme Court to hear a case?
6. 6 List the two ways cases come to the Supreme Court?

Evaluation

Checklist

The questions are answered in full sentences. 6 points
Presentations
        You presented your case : giving the case title, case number, date and identify the freedom  4 points
    Your summary of the argument ,stated the vedict, and give a one sentence summary   6 points

Conclusion
 
 

Congratulations! You have successfully completed a WeQuest. You have learned to locate information through a database and you have been exposed to decisions made by this country's highest court.