Course Description

In this course, students will analyze and evaluate citizen's rights, court structure, criminal, tort, and contract law through case studies, research, written/verbal justification, and hypothetical cases. Landmark cases studied will follow the Bill of Rights.

Grade Level(s): 10th-12th Grades

Related Priority Standards (State &/or National): BMIT - Business Education

Enduring Understandings/Big Ideas

• Students will identify the different levels of courts in our legal system.
• Students will explore various Federal and State cases. 
• Students will develop an enriched understanding of citizens' rights.
• Students will complete an in-depth analysis of landmark court cases related to Amendments of the Constitution. 
• Students will explore cases related to the 1st amendment. 
• Students will examine definitions and interpretations of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, discuss the role of the Fourth Amendment in today’s society, and then consider the implications of everyday scenarios involving searches and seizures.  
• Students will interpret the 5th Amendment. 
• Students will understand the meaning of "cruel and unusual punishment".
• Students will explore the death sentence by state and statistics.
• Students will explore juvenile law and when juveniles are tried as adults.
• Students will understand the steps of a criminal trial.
• Students will identify the steps in a civil trial.

Course-Level Scope & Sequence (Units &/or Skills)

• Unit 1 - Explore Careers in Law
• Unit 2 - Justice
• Unit 3 - Ethics
• Unit 4 - Who Are Supreme Court Justices
• Unit 5 - Federal and State Courts
• Unit 6 - Bill of Rights
• Unit 7 - 1st Amendment
• Unit 8 - 2nd Amendment
• Unit 9 - 4th Amendment
• Unit 10 - 8th Amendment Cases
• Unit 11 - Juvenile Law
• Unit 12 - Criminal Trials

Date Last Revised/Approved: 2010