Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Supreme Court Opens New Term with 48 Cases, 10/13/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/scotus_10-12.htm

Initiating Questions:

1. What does the Supreme Court do?

2. Can you name some important Supreme Court cases in history?

3. How do Supreme Court decisions affect you?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. When was the Supreme Court founded? What term is it beginning?

The Supreme Court, which was founded in 1789 has begun a new session, its 214th term.

2. What will probably be the most high-profile case this term? Why is it important?

The most high-profile case this season will probably be the court's ruling on the constitutionality of a 2002 campaign finance law, also known as the McCain-Feingold law. In the case, which officially opened last term but will be ruled on this term, the court will focus on two aspects of the law: The banning of certain contributions to national political parties, also called "soft money" contributions; and the strict limits put on TV and radio ads paid for by corporations or unions before an election.

3. Explain the terms "writs of certiorari" and "writ of cert." Why are they important?

"Writs of certiorari" are requests to the Supreme Court to hear a certain case. This term there are more 7,000 of them. The process of accepting a case is called a "writ of cert."

Whether the court does decide to take a case could have a major impact on the case and its participants. Because the Supreme Court is the ultimate appeals court, if the justices decided not to hear it, the ruling of the lower court stands and the losers have to accept the verdict.

4. What is Locke v. Davey? Explain in detail.

Locke v. Davey is one case that is scheduled for opening arguments in December. It considers the state of Washington's refusal to allow a college theology major to receive a state-sponsored college scholarship. The case is similar to a one argued two terms ago in which the court ruled in favor of a family who wanted to use school vouchers -- paid for by the government -- to pay for a parochial or private school.

5. What cases has the Supreme Court thrown out? Why

So far in the last week, the court has thrown out several cases, some filed by World War II veterans who were forced to be slaves while they were prisoners of war (POWs) in Japan. The court chose not to hear those cases because it said a treaty between the United States and Japan, signed after the war, prevents POWs from either side from seeking damages, such as payment, in court.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you think Americans know enough about what the Supreme Court does? Why is it important to know what cases the Supreme Court is considering?

2. Should the Supreme Court hear every case that petitions to be heard? Why or why not?

3. Research one of the cases set to go before the Supreme Court this term. What is your opinion of the case? How do you think the court will vote? Explain your reasoning.

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.