Presents the findings of a survey concerning secondary school students' views on justice. Reveals that most students associated justice with equality and fairness. Reports that students identified the African-American struggle as the most important U.S. justice issue. Describes students' views on improving their communities and coping with…

Offers an activity designed to illustrate the historical context of current legal questions relating to equal rights. The activity shows how the definition of equality has been expanded as a result of the continuous hard work of individuals and civil rights groups. (JDH)

Reviews case law, constitutional principles, and early American writings which deal with the idea of private property. Concludes that, in the future, the issues of laissez-fare capitalism, government regulation, and the welfare state will require further clarification of our conception of private property. (JDH)

Analyzes four significant court cases that span the rise of a body of jurisprudence in the United States known as civil rights law. Describes each of these cases in detail showing the profound impact they have had on the rights of all citizens and, in particular, African Americans. (CMK)

Presents a lesson in multiple parts designed to explain the importance of standardized weights and measures and to demonstrate how governmental activities have changed standards and influenced commerce. (JDH)

Provides information answering the complaint that individuals rely too much on litigation. Notes that, although notorious and suspect tort cases garner much of the public's attention, they make up less than 6% of the courts' work. Most litigation involves child custody, small claims, and property cases. (MJP)

Provides a lesson intended to stimulate students' interest in the concept of justice and to focus attention on how the U.S. Constitution protects and promotes justice. (JDH)

Presents a lesson on capital punishment for juveniles based on three hypothetical cases. The goal of the lesson is to have students understand the complexities of decisions regarding the death penalty for juveniles. (JDH)

Focuses on the importance of developing public appreciation for and association with the law. Argues that positive incentives to abide by the law are consistent with democratic values and supported by learning theories and child development research. Concludes that democracy works best when its citizens act according to their own will. (CFR)

Introduces a lesson designed to help students understand the role that each branch of the federal government can take in redressing the impact of past discrimination while protecting the rights of individuals whose opportunities may be limited by an affirmative action program. The lesson is based on a case study and includes student handouts. (JDH)

Presents a lesson plan that teaches students to analyze and identify the constitutional rights that protect individuals accused of crimes. Student handouts include a checklist of situations and corresponding constitutional protections and a scenario involving a murder at the school. Activities include guided group discussions. (MJP)

Presents a lesson designed to help students identify components of justice and discern issues of justice and injustice in daily life. Includes background information and preparation, an activity preparation phase, and an application phase in which five role-playing scenarios are used. (CFR)

Provides an instructive overview of the responsibilities of the police and the rights of the citizen concerning criminal investigations. Briefly describes the protections afforded by the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments. Includes a learning activity involving a legal analysis of situations. (MJP)

Outlines class activities to help students understand how the U.S. Supreme Court reaches its decisions and how the decisions change over time. Includes objectives, resources, issues and questions, procedures, and evaluations. Suggests that students will learn the facts and issues of important civil rights cases and form opinions on the decisions.…

Discusses the constitutional protection of individual rights, particularly how they relate to the conduct of law enforcement. Summarizes a number of Supreme Court decisions and the legal precedents they established. Considers the various jurisdictions and duties of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. (MJP)