Check out a sampling of the “don’t miss” highlights of the Supreme Court Building and the ground floor exhibits created by the Office of the Curator.

Unlike the Presidential Oath of Office, the wording of the Supreme Court Oath is not explicitly defined in the text of the United States Constitution. Learn more on this webpage.

Take the Constitution quiz to find out how much you know about the Constitution of the United States of America.

These activities introduce students, teachers, and families to some of the history and symbolism featured at the Supreme Court of the United States. Recommended for grades 5-12. Downloadable PDFs are available.

The coloring book pages below highlight aspects of Court history and tradition along with some of the notable artworks and architectural features of the interior and exterior of the Supreme Court Building. We hope you have fun coloring while learning about the Court!

Test your detection skills and learn about Chief Justice John Marshall. See if you can find 9 differences between Rembrandt Peale’s portrait of Chief Justice John Marshall and a modified version.

Lions are part of the decoration in the Great Hall. See if you can find 9 differences between two cartoons inspired by the carved marble lions in the Great Hall Frieze.

Look closely and take in the East and West Pediments, the Fraser statues flanking the front steps, the Bronze Doors, flagpoles, lampposts, and perimeter medallions.

Explore the highlights of the ground and first floors of the Supreme Court Building, including the John Marshall statue, spiral staircases, Great Hall, and Courtroom.

In this lesson, students are introduced to the three functions of government (legislative, judicial, and executive) through a story about an overworked king who must handle all the tasks of government. Next, students are given descriptions of the three functions of government and asked to match tasks to departments (lawmakers, executives, and judges). Finally, students create job descriptions for lawmakers, executives, and judges. Access to this resource requires a free educator login.

That all men are created equal” is a high and mighty concept, but far from the reality of Virginia in the 18th century. How do we reconcile a body of law that does not live up to our highest ideals?

A list of 25 landmark cases in the history of the Supremem Court of the United States of America

On May 25, 1787, the fifty-five delegates to the Constitutional Convention began meeting in a room, no bigger than a large schoolroom, in Philadelphia’s State House. They posted sentries at the doors and windows to keep their "secrets from flying out." They barred the press and public, and took a vow not to reveal to anyone the words spoken there. There were speeches of two, three, and four hours. The convention, which lasted four months, took only a single eleven-day break. Explore these primary sources to learn more.

On September 25, 1789, Congress transmitted to the state Legislatures twelve proposed amendments to the Constitution. Numbers three through twelve were adopted by the states to become the United States (U.S.) Bill of Rights, effective December 15, 1791.

A list of important dates and events related to the United States Constitution