Chapter 15: The Federal Courts

Study Plan

In this chapter, we will:

• examine the legal system, including the types of cases that the federal courts consider and the types of law with which they deal.
• assess the organization and structure of the federal court system as well as the flow of cases through the courts.
• consider judicial review and how it makes the Supreme Court a “lawmaking body.” We also analyze the procedures of and influences on the Supreme Court.
• consider the role and power of the federal courts in the American political process, looking in particular at the growth of judicial power in the United States. We conclude by looking at how this changing role affects liberty and democracy.

As you work through the below assignments, don't forget to generate a Progress Report. Fill out the sections you have completed and send a copy to your email account.

Organize

1. Follow this Study Plan to access your chapter assignments.
2. Print out the Chapter Outline and bring it to lecture to help structure your note-taking and check-off topics covered in class.
3. Access Quiz+! The results of this chapter quiz create a Custom Study Plan that links you directly to materials that will assist your pre-exam review.

Learn

1. Read Chapter 15 in your textbook or ebook.
2. Read the Chapter Review of Chapter 15. Note any material you have difficulty remembering from the text.
3. Master the key terms for this chapter by working through the deck of Flashcards.

Connect

1. Explore the Interactive Politics Simulation and the questions that follow.
2. Complete the You Decide Exercise after reading the Policy Debate box in Chapter 15 of your textbook or ebook.
3. Answer the Questions for Discussion and Thought and articulate your own point of view on the chapter's material.
4. Complete the What Government Does Exercises to understand the structure of American government and how it affects your life in a direct way.
5. Complete the Get Involved Exercise to see how you can use what you have learned in this chapter to effect change in politics and policy.
6. Watch the Video Exercises for this chapter and answer the accompanying questions.
7. Mobilize for political action with Mobilize.org!

Links

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