Precedent and Stare Decisis
Grade
9-12
Lesson Duration
From Landmark Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Parts One and Two of this lesson involve students reflecting about and discussing the questions: What are the benefits and risks of sticking by the known rules? What are the benefits and risks of changing the rules for new situations? Part Three has students working in small groups. Students look at quotations about what the Justices think about Precedent and Stare Decisis and then summarize and share the main ideas.
Go to: http://landmarkcases.org/en/Page/692/Precedent_and__Stare_Decisis