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Supreme Court Round-Up 2015-2016

Supreme Court Roundup 2015-2016

Have students choose three Supreme Court cases from the list below. For each case, they should research and report the following information:

  • When was the case argued?
  • What was the question argued in the case?
  • When was the case decided
  • What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the case?
  • Which Supreme Court Justice wrote the majority or unanimous opinion? Which justice wrote the dissenting opinion, if any? Which justice wrote the concurring opinion, if any?
  • Do you agree with the Court’s decision? Explain you answer.
  • List of cases:
    • Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association
    • Evenwel v. Abbott
    • Hurst v. Florida
    • Foster v. Chatman
    • Montgomery v. Louisiana

Several major cases are yet to be ruled upon this term. Have your students research the following cases. Use the discussion questions and their findings to analyze the cases and discuss how you and your students believe the court should rule under the Constitution.

  • Fisher v. University of Texas – Does the University of Texas’ use of race as a consideration in the admissions process violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
    • Oyez – Fisher v. University of Texas
    • SCOTUSblog – Fisher v. University of Texas
      • What part of the Fourteenth Amendment is involved in this case?
      • How will the ruling impact the ability of public institutions of learning to consider race in admissions decisions?
      • How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?
  • United States v. Texas – 1) Do states that provide subsidies to persons who are granted deferred action have standing to sue because the new guidelines will lead to more persons being eligible for deferred action? 2) Is the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program arbitrary and capricious? 3) Did DAPA violate the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to go through the notice-and-comment procedure? 4) Does DAPA violate the Take Care Clause of the Constitution?
    • Oyez – United States v. Texas
    • SCOTUSblog – United States v. Texas
      • What constitutional provisions are involved in this case?
      • How will the ruling impact the ability of the Department of Homeland Security to implement the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents Program?
      • How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case?  What is your constitutional reasoning?
  • Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt – Should a court’s “substantial burden” analysis take into account the extent to which laws that restrict access to abortion services actually serve the government’s stated interest in promoting health?
    • Oyez – Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt
    • SCOTUSblog – Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt
      • What constitutional provisions are involved in this case?
      • How will the ruling impact the abilities of states to create public health laws which affect abortion services?
      • How do you think the Supreme Court will rule in this case? What is your constitutional reasoning?