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Civics Education and Outreach

Additional Resources

Below are additional civics resources and information about the federal judiciary. 

This resource page is for informational purposes only. The Federal Judicial Center (FJC) does not provide legal advice and the linked resources and information below should not be construed as such.

JUDICIARY CIVICS RESOURCES

This section provides educational resources about the federal judiciary that were created by the FJC or the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO/US Courts), which are both federal judiciary agencies. 

General Resources

  • Inside the Federal Courts: Addresses how the federal courts work, how they are organized, and how they fit into the U.S. system of government. While designed for court employees, this web content may also help the public learn more about the federal courts (Source: FJC)
  • About Federal Courts: The U.S. Courts were created under Article III of the Constitution to administer justice fairly and impartially, within the jurisdiction established by the Constitution and Congress. This website will help you learn more about the Judicial Branch and its work, including about (Source: AO/US Courts):
  • State and Federal Jurisdiction (Video): An animated video addressing the difference between federal and state courts, how federal courts are organized, and how it is determined which cases go to each type of court (Source: FJC)
  • Welcome to the Federal Courts: A brief 4-page pamphlet to assist visitors to federal courthouses to understand what they may see or hear during their visit (Source: FJC)
  • Federal Courts and What They Do: A 32-page educational pamphlet that answers common questions public visitors to federal courts ask and which also includes a glossary of legal terms (Source: FJC)
  • History of the Federal Judiciary: This section of the FJC website houses research and original resources on the history of the judicial branch of the federal government. This websection has an available user guide and educational resources including (Source: FJC):
    • Cases that Shaped the Federal Courts: Includes case summaries, discussion questions, and primary documents related to cases that had a major institutional impact on the federal courts. The cases address a range of legal issues including jurisdiction, federalism, judicial review, and non-adjudicatory roles of federal judges.
    • Famous Federal Trials: This feature illustrates the federal courts' role in issues of national controversy in history, such as women’s suffrage, Chinese exclusion, Prohibition, the Red Scare, and Vietnam War protests.
    • Spotlight on Judicial History: An ongoing series presenting short essays on interesting topics related to the federal courts. Topics thus far have included circuit riding, the Mississippi Burning case, the Ku Klux Klan trials of 1871-1872, the Supreme Court’s Rule of Four, and baseball’s reserve clause, among several others.
    • The Judicial Branch: Administration, Staff, and Governance: Describes the history of judiciary administration, court officers and their staff, and the history of judiciary interaction with the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. 
    • Snapshots of Federal Judicial History: Provides basic information about the federal judiciary at regular intervals in its historical development. Each snapshot includes charts and maps pertinent to developments occurring at or around the time period in question and may serve as a teaching resource.
  • Governance and the Judicial Conference: Information about regional and national judiciary governance (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Jury Service: Provides information about jury service, including about juror selection and types of juries (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Pathways to the Bench (Video): A video series in which individual judges talk about the personal, character-building challenges they have faced that prepared them to serve on the bench (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Visit a Federal Court: Provides general information about visiting federal courthouses, with an emphasis on visits by teachers and students (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Defender Services: Provides information about representation of defendants, which in the federal system is handled by Defender Services (Source: AO/US Courts)

Resources for Teachers or Students

Resources specifically targeted to teachers and students are noted in this section. The general resources noted on this webpage may also be of interest to teachers and students. 

  • Educational Resources: Information about federal court outreach and educational programs for students (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Visit a Federal Court: Provides general information about visiting federal courthouses, with an emphasis on visits by teachers and students (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Cases that Shaped the Federal Courts: Includes case summaries, discussion questions, and primary documents related to cases that had a major institutional impact on the federal courts. The cases address a range of legal issues including jurisdiction, federalism, judicial review, and non-adjudicatory roles of federal judges (Source: FJC)
  • Famous Federal Trials: This feature illustrates the federal courts' role in issues of national controversy in history, such as women’s suffrage, Chinese exclusion, Prohibition, the Red Scare, and Vietnam War protests (Source: FJC)
  • Spotlight on Judicial History: An ongoing series presenting short essays on interesting topics related to the federal courts. Topics thus far have included circuit riding, the Mississippi Burning case, the Ku Klux Klan trials of 1871-1872, the Supreme Court’s Rule of Four, and baseball’s reserve clause, among several others (Source: FJC)
  • Snapshots of Federal Judicial History: Provides basic information about the federal judiciary at regular intervals in its historical development. Each snapshot includes charts and maps pertinent to developments occurring at or around the time period in question and may serve as a teaching resource. (Source: FJC)

 

NONJUDICIARY CIVICS RESOURCES

The resources in this section provide information relevant to learning about the judiciary and its role. The content is housed on external non-judiciary websites and, therefore, the FJC cannot ensure its accuracy or continued availability. 

Nonjudiciary Government Agencies

  • Milestone Documents: Marbury v. Madison: Discusses a famous Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, which is the right of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the actions of the other two branches of government. Judicial review is an important component of checks and balances within the federal system of government (Source: National Archives)
  • Citizenship Resource Center: Provides information about naturalization, the process by which eligible individuals who have immigrated to the United States become citizens. Federal judiciary staff frequently host or participate in naturalization ceremonies in which a federal judge administers the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens (Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
  • Introduction to the Federal Court System: Describes the types of federal courts, the hierarchical structure of the federal court system, and the types of cases which federal courts are authorized to hear or resolve, i.e., cases over which federal courts have jurisdiction (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of U.S. Attorneys)

Other Nonprofits/Organizations

Resources for Teachers or Students

Resources specifically targeted to teachers and students are noted in this section. The general resources noted elsewhere on this webpage may also be of interest to teachers and students. 

  • Educator Resources: A resource page for teachers with information about historical documents and information about upcoming educational programs (Source: National Archives)
  • Landmark Supreme Court Cases: Discussions and documentaries (often involving the participation of former Supreme Court justices) and lesson plans about famous "landmark" Supreme Court cases (Source: Annenberg Classroom)
  • Teacher Portal: Provides resources to help teachers educate students about legal matters, as well as information about Teachers Institutes, including some video recordings resulting from past Institutes. Not all resources focus specifically on the federal judiciary, but many provide information relevant to courts generally (Source: American Bar Association Division of Public Education)
  • Teacher Resources on the Judicial Branch/Supreme Court: Aggregated teacher resources and lesson plans created by nonprofit organizations about the judiciary (Source: Civics Renewal Network)
  • The Judicial System and Current Cases: Learning module about the judicial branch, including judicial independence and the authority of courts to interpret the constitutionality of laws passed and actions taken by the legislative and executive branches of government (Source: National Constitution Center)
  • Separation of Powers and Federalism: Learning module about how the Framers of the U.S. Constitution divided power between the three branches of federal government and the federal and state governments (Source: National Constitution Center)
  • Judicial Branch Curriculum (Lesson Plans): Includes a variety of resources, such as videos, lesson plans, "webquests," and online games, about the judicial branch (Source: iCivics)
  • Rule of Law (Lesson Plan): Addresses the principle of the rule of law (Source: iCivics)
  • Court Quest (Game): A game that lets students identify which cases belong in state versus federal courts (Source: iCivics)
  • Do I Have a Right? (Game): A game that asks students to determine whether potential "clients" may have a legal case based on the Bill of Rights  (Source: iCivics)
  • Branches of Power (Game): A game that asks students to identify and apply actions consistent with the respective role of the three branches of government (Source: iCivics)
  • Immigration Nation (Game): A game that teaches students about naturalization, which is the process by which immigrants may become a U.S. citizen (Source: iCivics)
  • Civics for All of Us: An education initiative that promotes civic literacy and engagement, offering student programs and webinars, as well as teacher workshops (Source: National Archives)

 

OTHER JUDICIARY DATA AND INFORMATION

This section lists other data and information about the federal judiciary provided by the FJC or the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO/US Courts), which are both federal judiciary agencies.

  • A Journalist's Guide to the Federal Courts: Offers basic, but not exhaustive information, intended to assist journalists who cover appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts (but not the Supreme Court) or the federal court system as a whole in performing their professional duties (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Integrated Database (IDB): Provides public access to data on civil case and criminal defendant filings and terminations in the district courts, along with bankruptcy court and appellate court case information from 1970 to the present (Source: FJC and AO/US Courts)
  • Statistics and Reports: Hosts annual reports, available statistical and data tables, and other informational resources about judicial business, operations, and long-term planning (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges: Includes biographical information and listings of manuscript collections and oral histories for Article III federal judges appointed to serve during good behavior since 1789. This database does not include information about bankruptcy or magistrate judges unless they have subsequently been appointed to the Article III bench (Source: FJC)
  • Glossary of Legal Terms: Provides brief definitions of legal terms commonly used within the federal court system (Source: AO/US Courts)
  • Court Website Links: Links to the federal court websites (U.S. Supreme Court and district, appellate, and bankruptcy courts), U.S. probation and pretrial services, and federal defender organizations (Source: AO/US Courts)

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Contact Info

Civics@fjc.gov