AP Government/Federal Courts & Rights
AP Forum
THE FEDERAL COURTS FORUM
Opinion is Power
-- Thomas Jefferson
"What is the Role of Federal Courts in the US Constitutional System?"
About Forum:
All forums are composed of two grades, a written and a verbal grade. The written will usually due the morning to the
forum, without the written portion of the seminar you cannot participate in the in-class discussion and will be given an
alternative assignment. Your written work is your "entry ticket"
For This Forum:
Using the Pursuit of Justices, “They Want to be Known as Jurists, not Activist” “Why Supreme Court Nominations
Fail”, “How Much Should Judges Make”, “Federal judicial vacancies reaching crisis point”, “Judicial Activism and Restraint:
The Role of the Supreme Court”, Lesson 15 & 25, and Chapter 10 in the American Government textbook,
1. Answer the situation questions on the back of this sheet.
2. Select ONE issue and write a one page position paper arguing your stance on this issue. BE PERSUASIVE, not
ignorant, and please type this using 12pt, New Times Roman font double spaced, with one inch margins. (See Rubric
below)
3. In class we will discuss and debate these issues, so be prepared
NOTE: R-18 is a safe place for ideas of all kinds. Forums are intended to be a practice in impassioned, civil discourse
So..."
what is the role of the federal courts"
(See back)
Essay Rubric:
10 – A well-organized essay that has a strong claim, provides convincing relevant evidence, with sound, strong reasoning, and no
grammatical mistakes.1
9 – An organized essay that has a solid claim, provides relevant evidence, with good reasoning and few grammatical mistakes.
8 – An organized essay that has a claim, provides some evidence from one of the readings, has reasoning, and few grammatical
mistakes.
7 – An essay with a weak claim, few grammatical mistakes, and provides general information regarding the readings
6-0 – A weak essay with little to no claim, with very little application, and does not answer the question at hand.
1
Outsides sources are not necessary but some questions may open themselves up to outside research
DIRECTIONS: Below are 8 questions to think about the deal with your reading for today. Take a few moments to read each
question. Remember you have write a response to ONE question, but able to answer all the questions in class. You should be
able to take a stand on each question, and be prepared to defend your position.
1.
Clarify David Yalof’s claim in Pursuit of Justice that “modern presidents are often forced to arbitrate among factions
within their own administrations, each pursing its own interests and agendas in the selection process.
2.
Why have the nominations of federal court judges become so political/controversial? Why do some nominations fail?
3.
Explain the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint? How have these doctrines impacted decisions
made by the court?
4.
From what you have learned are terms “of good behavior” a necessary requisite of the court? Explain your answer.
5.
What arguments can you make for or against the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review?
6.
What methods are used to interpret the Constitution, and which do you prefer.? Support your answer.
7.
What limits has the Constitution put on the salaries of federal judges? How and why has this become controversial over
the last decade?
8.
Should the composition of the Federal Courts be required to reflect the political, economic, racial, ethnic, geographical,
and gender diversity of our country? Why or why not?