The Supreme Court Returns to Session the First MONDAY in October!

Teachers, you may find this of interest to use with students to introduce them to the Supreme Court,the highest court in our country.

Oyez, Oyez...The Supreme Court begins its new session the first Monday of October. Used by the Supreme Court Marshall to call the Supreme Court to order, the word OYEZ means “Hear Ye”. The word originates from the Latin word which means “to hear”. The Supreme Court hears a number of cases each year in which questions to the Constitution are raised. 

Did You Know?

1. Only one president did not get the opportunity to name a Supreme Court Justice. That was Jimmy Carter.

2. There is an indoor basketball court at the Supreme Court Building. It is called the “Highest Court in the Land” and is located on the fifth floor.

3. Since 1969, there have been 9 justices on the Supreme Court. However, Congress can change this number to be more or less justices.

4. Justice Clarence Thomas has a record for being the only Supreme Court Justice to remain totally silence, not asking any questions or making any statement, on the bench, for seven years. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 1991, Thomas spoke, from the bench, for the first time in 2013.

5. Is a pickle a vegetable or a fruit? This was one of the decisions the Supreme Court determined in Nix v. Hedden. The court determined it is the seeds that classify the pickle as a “fruit of the vine”.

6. Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life. WHY do you think this is the case?____________________

7. You DON'T have to be a lawyer to be named to the Supreme Court.

8. Should a president be IMPEACHED(a trial to determine whether a President has committed actions which could remove the President from office), the Supreme Court Chief Justice presides over the trial.

9. President Taft is the only President to go on to become a Supreme Court Justice.

10. SCOTUS is an acronym for Supreme Court of The United States. What is an acronym? Think of three other acronyms that are common in our daily lives.

This web quest will introduce students to the Supreme Court. There are 12 web questions, a Did You Know? section and comprehension questions. Additionally, there are several extension activities and additional links as well as the Learn about the Supreme Court!