Da Vinci Design: Mr. Frank Solis



303657099060My RightsVersus YoursProject: The Supreme Court & Civil LibertiesDriving Questions: Why do we have the rights we have? Can they be taken away? Overview: Students will study the Supreme Court, its effect on our Civil Liberties, and how it makes decisions through a SCOTUS trial simulation, or “Moot Court”.Student Deliverables & Due DatesDeliverableDue Date1. Written brief/oral arguments for the court2. Oral Arguments & Moot Trials110109044450ProceduresChoose a topic. You will rank the top three constitutional issues you are interested in. I will take your choices into consideration as I am assigning students to constitutional issues, but no one is guaranteed a topic. Research. After being assigned a topic, you will research your topic from the point of view of a Supreme Court Justice Clerk, whose job is to be unbiased and dispassionate about the topics. This will help you understand the topic from both sides. Appellant or Respondent. You will be assigned to either the appellant or respondent side of the case randomly by me. You will not get to choose the side of the argument you will be assigned to, and you will not get to switch sides. Sorry! Being able to argue rationally and effectively even about issues you may disagree with is an important skill necessary for college and life! Brief for the Court. You will write a 3 page brief for the court, where you lay out your arguments for why the court should decide the case in your side’s favor. Oral Arguments. You and your team will argue your case in front of nine Supreme Court Justices. You will be able to present your arguments, but will be interrupted and asked questions by the justices, so you must be prepared! Reflection. You will reflect on your own work on the project and your learning, as well as that of your group. 137160527685Possible Topics:Possible Topics/ Constitutional ProvisionsGun ControlLGTBQ IssuesAbortionPolice ViolenceDrone LawAny of the 27 amendmentsCampaign FinanceInterstate Commerce ClauseDeath PenaltyThe Elastic ClauseNSA MonitoringThe Supremacy Clause Stop and Frisk Powers of the Executive, Judicial, LegislativeImmigrationSCOTUS Brief Writing InstructionsA brief is a legal document prepared by a party to the Court. It contains information on the facts of the case, the legal issues to be decided, the law the Court ought to apply, and the decision the party desires the Court to reach. It is very important that Attorneys have a thorough understanding of both sides in order to effectively present and defend their case.The goal of a brief is to convince the Court that one's position is correct, logical and reasonable. To be compelling, a brief must also be understandable and concise. The Court will read many briefs throughout the session, so it is important to write in a clear and interesting manner.The brief needs to treat the Court as a potential ally to be won over by effective persuasion. The Court is interested in seeing that justice is done and law correctly applied. Briefs should never take a tone that implies that the Court is one's opposition. The Attorney team must never lie or distort the facts of the case, but rather is to present the client's case in the best possible light, and suggest that the action requested is not only consistent with past legal precedent, but is also just and consistent with the rule of law.Attorneys and Justices need to thoroughly understand the research materials provided with the case, but may also consider its broader social, economic and philosophical implications.Details: 3 pages of arguments, double spaced, typed. 12 point regular font. You must cite your sources in MLA format. Outline Title Page (not included in 3 pages of argument)Name of author of argumentName of case: petitioner vs. respondentConstitutional QuestionDate Period Arguments pages Case SummaryConstitutional Provisions and statutesRequest of the CourtPrecedentsConclusion & SignatureSupreme Court Moot Hearing OutlinePetitioners and Respondents: follow these guidelines:“Mr. Chief Justice, may it please the court” Explain the basic facts of the caseWhat happened? Why? When? Where? Who?“This case is about ____________________”What does your side think the key issue in this case really is?What is the Constitutional question in the case?The _________________ Amendment’s purpose is to….(Explain the purpose of the Amendment or Constitutional provision you are arguing for and how your side of the case supports that purpose)“We ask that the court rule that _________”Tell them exactly what you want. Should they rule a law unconstitutional?“Our position is supported by the following precedents”In the case of _____ vs. ______, this court ruled that _________. This precedent is similar to/different from our case because _________.b. In the case of _____ vs. ______, this court ruled that _________. This precedent is similar to/different from our case because _________. c. Explain other precedents that you want applied in this case, or precedents that you think should be overruled, or precedents you think should not be applied in this case, and why.“In conclusion, Your Honor, we ask that the court rules ____________________ because… (Explain why this is important, how the ruling will affect Americans’ lives, our rights, our society, or the future.)Thank you, Your Honor. ................
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