By Deliberating in a Democracy in the Americas

This lesson is designed to promote the teaching and learning of democratic principles and the skills of civic deliberation. Students complete a reading (available in English, Spanish, and Audio-English) and engage in a Structured Academic Controversy.

Question for deliberation: Should our democracy elect judges?

Objectives

At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:
-Define the term judicial independence.
-Give examples of how governments can establish independent judiciaries.
-List at least three reasons to support and three reasons to oppose the election of judges.
-Explain why transparency, accountability, and controlling the abuse of power are
fundamental principles of democracy.
-Evaluate which principles of democracy may be in conflict when judges are appointed or
elected.
-Identify areas of agreement and disagreement with other students.
-Reach a decision, individually and collectively, on the deliberation issue using evidence and
sound reasoning.
-Explain the importance of deliberating this question in a democratic society.

Go to: Corruption and Judicial Independence (DDA)

Source

The initiative is conducted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC), the Constitutional Rights Foundation in Los Angeles (CRF) and Street Law, Inc. with a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.