Case developed for the 2012 Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament: Criminal Case-Murder
Civics Lessons
Teaching Standard: Structure and Function of Government
People of New Michigan v. Thomas Osiski
What Makes an Amendment?
Students will learn about the process of amending the Constitution. They will review the details of the amendment process and discuss its pros and cons. In class activities, assignments, and the Lesson Extensions, student partners and groups will create persuasive presentations that they will share with the class to gain support for an amendment.
People v. Alex Johnson
Case developed for the 2010 Michigan High School Mock Trial Tournament
Criminal Case-Murder of high school student
To Amend or Not to Amend, That’s Been the Question…Many Times
This lesson asks students to examine recent proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution, analyze them for public policy triggering mechanisms, and compare and contrast them to amendments that have been ratified.
Participating in the Jury System
Students participate in activities and discussions about the relationship of a democratic society to its legal institutions, and the issues of fairness and equality under the law and legal system. They learn how constitutional amendments such as the Fourteenth Amendment influence lawsuits, and they will apply concepts within the Bill of Rights to jury trials. Students conduct research to compare the U.S. jury trial system to trial systems in other countries.
Voting in Congress
Students learn what factors members of Congress consider when deciding whether to vote for a bill. These include the powers given to Congress by the Constitution, members’ personal opinions, political party support, and what voters think. During the first day of the lesson, students find out about each of these factors. During the second day, students get to try their hand at weighing the factors by considering hypothetical bills.
B.B. Wolf v. Curly Pig Mock Trial
Mock Trial Script of Curly Pig vs the Big Bad Wolf
What is the Role of the President in the American Constitutional System?
This lesson examines sources of presidential power and ways that checks and balances limit presidential power. Students explain the president’s constitutional responsibilities, identify checks on the president’s power, and defend positions involving the exercise of presidential power.
Making Decisions: by Group: The Jury System
Students learn about the nation’s jury system and its importance to the rule of law in the United States. Students will experience the Sixth and Seventh Amendments at work as they engage in the main lesson activities, including one in which they will serve as jurors.
Goldilocks vs. the Three Bears
This scripted mock trial includes ideas for pre and post mock trial activities.