WQ: Supreme Interpreters - iCivics | Free Lesson Plans and Games

WQ: Supreme Interpreters
Name:
Instructions: Use this worksheet to collect your answers from the WebQuest. NOTE: There may be
questions on this worksheet that are not online.
Slide 1: Constitutional Rights
Slide 2: It Means What It Says
1. Write the phrases that go in the two blanks.
1. What does judicial review allow the Supreme
Court to do?
_________________ of ________________
__________ and __________ ________________
2. Do these rights sound familiar?
2. Why do you think the Supreme Court needs to
be able to interpret the Constitution?
 Yes  No
3. Do you see any explanation of what these
phrases mean?
 Yes  No
Slide 3: Freedom to Lie?
Slide 4: Freedom to Lie: The Court’s Opinion
Your Interpretation: Should Alvarez be
charged with a crime for his lie, or should his lie
be protected by freedom of speech? Explain your
opinion.
1. Justice Kennedy talked about two kinds of speech
that the First Amendment protects. What did he
say?
2. Three justices dissented (disagreed). Why did they
think this kind of lie should not be protected?
Slide 5: Protected Speech
1. Choose one kind of speech NOT protected by
freedom of speech. Explain why you think
people don’t have the right to do that.
2. Is there an activity you think is on the wrong
list? (Something you think the Court should
have decided differently?)  Yes  No Explain
why you think people should or should not have
that right.
Supreme Interpreters WQ Companion Worksheet p. 1
WQ: Supreme Interpreters
Name:
Slide 6: That’s cruel and unusual!
Slide 7: Very Detailed Interpretations
1. Which execution methods are constitutional?
(Hint: They’re the ones states are still using.)
1. How many points is the “margin of error” built
into the IQ test? (Margin of error is a measure of
uncertainty about how accurate the score is.)
________ points
2. Some states have abolished the death penalty
on their own. Is the death penalty legal in your
state?
 Yes
2. Your Interpretation: Is it cruel and unusual to
execute someone after using such a strict
method to decide they are not intellectually
disabled?
 No
Slide 8: IQ Test: The Court’s Opinion
1. What was the “unacceptable risk” that
Florida’s law caused?
Slide 9: Should the Death Penalty be
Unconstitutional?
1. Do you support or oppose the death penalty?
 Support
 Oppose
2. The Court’s written opinion said, “Intellectual
disability is a condition, not a number.” What do
you think the Court was trying to say to Florida?
2. Find one reason on the list that you agree with
and use it to explain your opinion.
3. Percent of Americans that...
Support the death penalty
%
Oppose the death penalty
%
Slide 10: There’s Always a New Twist
Think about everything you’ve learned in this WebQuest. What if the Supreme Court did not have the
power to interpret the Constitution?
Supreme Interpreters WQ Companion Worksheet p. 2
WQ: Supreme Interpreters
Name:
** TEACHER GUIDE **
Instructions: Use this worksheet to collect your answers from the WebQuest. NOTE: There may be
questions on this worksheet that are not online.
Slide 1: Constitutional Rights
Slide 2: It Means What It Says
1. Write the phrases that go in the two blanks.
1. What does judicial review allow the Supreme
Court to do?
____freedom____ of _____speech_____
__cruel__ and __unusual_ ___punishment__
2. Do these rights sound familiar?
 Yes  No
Judicial review lets the judicial branch make
sure the other branches of government are
following the Constitution.
2. Why do you think the Supreme Court needs to
be able to interpret the Constitution?
Answers will vary
3. Do you see any explanation of what these
phrases mean?
Answers will vary
 Yes 
No
Slide 3: Freedom to Lie?
Slide 4: Freedom to Lie: The Court’s Opinion
Your Interpretation: Should Alvarez be
charged with a crime for his lie, or should his lie
be protected by freedom of speech? Explain your
opinion.
1. Justice Kennedy talked about two kinds of speech
that the First Amendment protects. What did he
say?
Answers will vary
He said the First Amendment "protects the
speech we detest as well as the speech we
embrace."
2. Three justices dissented (disagreed). Why did they
think this kind of lie should not be protected?
They think the law does not threaten free
speech and that lies about military medals
harm those who receive the medals and
undermine our country’s system of military
honors.
Slide 5: Protected Speech
1. Choose one kind of speech NOT protected by
freedom of speech. Explain why you think
people don’t have the right to do that.
Answers will vary
2. Is there an activity you think is on the wrong
list? (Something you think the Court should
have decided differently?)  Yes  No Explain
why you think people should or should not have
that right.
Answers will vary
Supreme Interpreters WQ Companion Worksheet p. 1
WQ: Supreme Interpreters
Name:
** TEACHER GUIDE **
Slide 6: That’s cruel and unusual!
Slide 7: Very Detailed Interpretations
1. Which execution methods are constitutional?
(Hint: They’re the ones states are still using.)
1. How many points is the “margin of error” built
into the IQ test? (Margin of error is a measure of
uncertainty about how accurate the score is.)
Lethal injection; electrocution; gas chamber;
hanging; firing squad.
2. Some states have abolished the death penalty
on their own. Is the death penalty legal in your
state?
 Yes
 No
___5___ points
2. Your Interpretation: Is it cruel and unusual to
execute someone after using such a strict
method to decide they are not intellectually
disabled?
Answers will vary
Answers will vary by state
Slide 8: IQ Test: The Court’s Opinion
1. What was the “unacceptable risk” that
Florida’s law caused?
That people with intellectual disabilities will
be executed.
2. The Court’s written opinion said, “Intellectual
disability is a condition, not a number.” What do
you think the Court was trying to say to Florida?
Answers will vary, but students should indicate
that the Court wanted Florida to be more
flexible and consider additional factors.
Slide 9: Should the Death Penalty be
Unconstitutional?
1. Do you support or oppose the death penalty?
 Support
 Oppose
2. Find one reason on the list that you agree with
and use it to explain your opinion.
Answers will vary
3. Percent of Americans that...
Support the death penalty
63 %
Oppose the death penalty
33 %
Slide 10: There’s Always a New Twist
Think about everything you’ve learned in this WebQuest. What if the Supreme Court did not have the
power to interpret the Constitution?
Answers will vary, but students should indicate that the Court would have a
hard time adapting the Constitution to specific situations; they might also say
that it would be difficult for the Court (or anyone) to know what the
Constitution means.
Supreme Interpreters WQ Companion Worksheet p. 2