Judicial Branch - Civics State Exam
PowerPoint available at: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mr-Raymond-Civics-Eoc-Academy
This video teaches students the basics of the
Judicial Branch of the
Federal Government. Students will learn about how the judicial branch is set up, basic vocabulary, as well as its main functions and powers. This video reviews the purpose of the nation’s court system to interpret the law and to settle disputes. Students will also learn the
difference between criminal and civil trials with examples for both. The role that judges and juries play in the court system is also covered. Students are introduced to the history of the judicial branch with early colonial courts, the lack of a national judicial branch under the
Articles of Confederation, and its establishment by the
US Constitution. The exact text of
Article III of the US Constitution as it established only the
US Supreme Court and Congressional
Power to create “inferior courts” is covered.
Next is a thorough review of the three levels of the
Federal Court System: district courts, circuit court of appeals and the US Supreme Court. Students will learn about the path of cases through the three levels and their jurisdiction with a definition of “original jurisdiction.” Students will learn about the “dual court system” in
America and examples of the path through the various courts. Students will learn about the make-up of the courts, and the purpose of lifetime tenure for federal judges and
Supreme Court justices. Students will also be introduced to the types of cases that federal courts hear, as clarified by the
Constitution.
Finally students will learn about the significance of the
Marbury v. Madison case with
Chief Justice John Marshall’s declaration that the Constitution is the “supreme law of the land,” the job of the judicial branch to interpret the law, and most significantly the establishment of “judicial review.” Students will learn about judicial review or the power to declare laws unconstitutional and its effect on the three branches of government and our system of “checks and balances.”
Like most of the videos on Mr.
Raymond’s Civics
EOC Academy this video ends with a review “quiz.”
Remember that the PowerPoint in this video as well as a variety of lesson plans and activities are available at
Teachers Pay Teachers.
Mr. Raymond’s Civics
E.O.C. Academy was designed for students taking the
Florida Civics End-of-Course (EOC)
Exam. However, as many states are implementing Civics Exams, these videos will work for all students of Civics,
US Government, and
US History.
Currently students have to pass a civics state exam in order to graduate in
Idaho,
Wisconsin,
North Carolina,
Arizona,
North Dakota,
Louisiana,
South Carolina,
Tennessee, and
Utah. These videos look at all of the civics benchmarks that will be tested on most state civics exams.
As a civics teacher I have often looked for civics
YouTube video clips to show my students. I hope these videos will serve as a supplement to lessons for civics teachers,
US history teachers,
US government teachers and their students. While they might be a little basic for
AP Government students, they could serve as a refresher of basic concepts and content. I have also thought that these videos could help those who are going to take the naturalization test to become US
Citizens. I have also been reached by parents whose children are taking
Florida Virtual School’s (
FLVS) Civics class.
All content in this video is for educational purposes only… ***For noncommercial, educational, and archival purposes under Law of
Fair Use as provided in section 107 of the
US copyright law. No copyrights infringements intended***