Recommended for grades K-4. Learn about and explore the Supreme Court Building with cartoon tortoise, Lex, as your guide.

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 Tennessee v. Garner (1985), the Supreme Court ruled that under the Fourth Amendment, a police officer may not use deadly force against a fleeing, unarmed suspect. The fact that a suspect does not respond to commands to halt does not authorize an officer to shoot the suspect, if the officer reasonably believes that the suspect is unarmed.

Terry v. Ohio (1968) asked the United States Supreme Court to determine the legality of stop-and-frisk, a police practice in which officers would stop passersby on the street and inspect them for illegal contraband. The Supreme Court found the practice was legal under the Fourth Amendment, if the officer could show he had a "reasonable suspicion" that the suspect was armed and dangerous.

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.

If your knowledge of Supreme Court scandals begins and ends with the tumultuous Senate confirmation process of Justice Brett Kavanaugh in October 2018, you will either be relieved or horrified to learn that he was by no means the first jurist with a less-than-pristine reputation. From the judge who refused to listen to cases argued by women, to a former KKK member, bad behavior on the nation's highest court is not that uncommon. Here are a few of the juiciest scandals.

The classic American drama Twelve Angry Men can be used to frame discussion of the constitutional right and civic function of the trial by jury. The lesson explores the specific provisions associated with this right as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the system.

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

Show what you know about the U.S. government and important documents using this downloadable crossword puzzle.

Fill in the blanks to complete the First paragraphs or sentences of these Historic U.S. Government Documents.

In United States v. O’Brien (1968), Chief Justice Earl Warren laid out a test for deciding whether the government has unconstitutionally restricted symbolic speech. In general, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects a person’s right to speak freely. However, the 7-1 majority decision in O'Brien found that there are some instances in which the government can regulate free speech, like burning a draft card during wartime.

United States v. Wong Kim Ark, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on March 28, 1898, confirmed that under the Citizenship Clause of Fourteenth Amendment, the United States government cannot deny full U.S. citizenship to any person born within the United States. The landmark decision established the doctrine of “birthright citizenship,” a key issue in the debate over illegal immigration in the United States.

After teaching federalism, as a formative assessment, have students read through through the opinion of the Supreme Court Case Lopez v. United States . Students should be able to explain how federalism is applied in this case and be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of federalism citing examples from the case.

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" (majority vote) of the Senate.

Can Police Officers Use GPS to Track a Vehicle? In United States v. Jones (2012) the U.S. Supreme Court found that attaching a GPS tracker to a private vehicle constituted an illegal search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In United States v. Lopez (1995), the United States Supreme Court declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 an unconstitutional overreach of the implied powers of Congress under the Commerce Clause. The 5-4 divided decision preserved the system of federalism and reversed the Supreme Court’s 50-year trend of rulings that expanded the powers of Congress.

A basic introduction for visitors to the United States Supreme Court who plan to attend and observe public oral argument