Judicial Branch Extra Credit Opportunity PDF

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Name___________________________________________________ Judicial Branch Extra Credit Opportunity Podcast 1: Radiolab’s More Perfect - “Object Anyway” Directions: Listen to the podcast, and carefully answer the questions below. You may need to pause the podcast to write your answers before moving on. 1.

Who was James Batson, and how did he get into trouble?

2.

What happened at Batson’s first trial?

3.

How can jurors can be removed from a jury pool?

4.

What happened with the jury pool at Batson’s second trial?

5.

What was the decision at Batson’s trial? What did Batson do as a result?

6.

What did the Supreme Court decide regarding the exclusion of black jurors from a jury (Batson v Kentucky)?

7.

How did lawyers find a loophole with the “Batson rule?”

8.

How did race based jury selection continue despite the “Batson rule?”

9.

How does racial bias influence conviction and sentencing?

10.

What are the problems with the “Batson rule?” What are the possible solutions?

11.

Why do those within the legal system want to keep peremptory challenges?

Name________________________________ Judicial Branch Extra Credit Opportunity Directions: Listen to the podcast, and carefully answer the questions below. You may need to pause the podcast to write your answers before moving on. Podcast #2: Radiolab’s More Perfect - “Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl” 1. What is the Indian Child Welfare Act? 2. Give a short summary (2-3 sentences) of what happened to Veronica (the baby girl).

3. In previous years, what had been happening to the children of Native American families? 4. What does the Indian Child Welfare Act specifically say? Why was it passed?

5. How had the Capobianco’s originally adopted Veronica? What were the circumstances surrounding her adoption?

6. Why did the father give up the rights to Veronica? Why does his Cherokee heritage make the situation different?

7. How did the Supreme Court rule regarding this case? Who did Veronica ultimately end up with?

8. How have the laws changed as a result of this case?

9. How do you feel about the final decision made in this case? Do you think it was fair?

Name________________________________ Judicial Branch Extra Credit Opportunity Podcast #3: Radiolab’s More Perfect - “Cruel and Unusual” Directions: Listen to the podcast, and carefully answer the questions below. You may need to pause the podcast to write your answers before moving on. 1.How does Maya Foa see the death penalty? What is her point of view?

2. Why has there been an issue regarding the lethal injection drugs?

3. What was “Dream Pharma?”

4. Why didn’t countries want to supply medicines to the United States for the death penalty?

5. In 1972, the United States abolished the death penalty (Furman v. Georgia). Why?

6. How did lethal injection become the method for execution? Why was it seen as different than other forms of execution?

7. Why have companies stopped making the anesthetic used in lethal injection?

8. Why did some Supreme Court justices object to the issues raised by those who scrutinized the lethal injection drugs?

9. So, in conclusion, is the death penalty constitutional? What issues still need to be resolved regarding the death penalty?

Name________________________________ Judicial Branch Extra Credit Opportunity Podcast #4: Radiolab’s More Perfect - “Kittens Kick The Giggly Blue Robot All Summer” Directions: Listen to the podcast, and carefully answer the questions below. You may need to pause the podcast to write your answers before moving on. 1. Describe the early Supreme Court. Did they have much power? How did the system work initially? 2. What does the Constitution say about the Supreme Court? Why could that be an issue?

3. Why did Jefferson and Marshall dislike each other so much? What position in government did each hold? (NOTE: John Marshall’s position changes)

4. Why does Adams make the decision to appoint a bunch of new federal judges? What happens on the last day to the paperwork?

5. How does Jefferson react to the appointment of these judges? What does he do as a result?

6. How does Marbury react to the denial of his judgeship? What does he do as a result?

7. Why is Marshall stuck regarding a decision?

8. What does Marshall actually say in his decision?

9. How does Marshall give himself and the Supreme Court more power with the decision he makes?

10. How is the Supreme Court still limited?

Name________________________________ Judicial Branch Extra Credit Opportunity Podcast #5: Radiolab’s More Perfect “The Political Thicket” Directions: Listen to the podcast, and carefully answer the questions below. You may need to pause the podcast to write your answers before moving on. 1. What did Chief Justice Earl Warren consider his most important case? 2. Describe each of the follow Supreme Court Justices: Justice Frankfurter:

Justice William O. Douglas:

How did each feel about the role of the court?

3. How was Justice Whitaker markedly different from the above two characters?

4. Why did Justice Whitaker struggle making decisions on the Supreme Court early on?

5. What is Baker v. Carr about on the surface? Why was it an issue at that current moment? (Make sure to related this discussion to Tennessee).

6. How do the issues with district representation relate to race?

7. Why didn’t Justice Frankfurter want to get involved with the Baker v. Carr case?

8. What did the lawyers from Tennessee argue their defense?

9. Why do elected representatives have a vested interest in keeping district lines the same?

10. What is the “political thicket?”

11. How did the weight of the Baker v. Carr decision impact Justice Whitaker?

12. What was the decision in Baker v. Carr in the end? What did they ultimately decide?

13. Why is the Warren Court considered a revolution?

13. How does this relate to the election of 2000?...