Project: Whose Laws Reign Supreme? The Supreme Court and Federal Law The Supreme Court of the United States is the final legal authority in the nation. The Supreme Court can overturn decisions made in other courts, as the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is the most powerful. This means that the Supreme Court can overturn federal laws if they are found to be unconstitutional. In order to do this, the Supreme Court must find that the law in some way violates the laws and procedures established by the Constitution. This is a wonderful example of how the system of checks and balances is designed to operate.

In this lesson, you will research five cases where the Supreme Court found a federal law unconstitutional and over ruled it. Besides giving you valuable insight into the nature of law in the United States, you will also learn about the process of how the Supreme Court works and the importance of the Constitution in guiding the court's decisions.

Instructions

Research five instances in which the Supreme Court found a federal law unconstitutional. You may choose any case that meets this requirement - it does not have to be a contemporary case or issue.
For each case, write a brief paragraph summarizing the following information:
What is the full name of the court case?
What was the court case about?
What year did the case happen?
Who brought the case to the Supreme Court?
What federal law was being challenged by the court case?
What did the Supreme Court rule?
What part of the Constitution did the Supreme Court cite in the decision to overturn the federal law?
What legal consequences or changes followed as a result of the Supreme Court's decision?
Type the answers to these questions for each brief essay.
Once you have completed the essays, write an additional paragraph explaining the importance of the Constitution in the proceedings of the Supreme Court. Also explain why the Supreme Court is allowed to overturn federal laws and why this is important.
Type all your essay questions using word processing software so you can submit them to your instructor, using the box below. Make certain to write using a standard 12-point font, double spaced.