US history political cartoons
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Name
Class
CARTOON
7
Date
Civics Political Cartoon Activity
The Ability to Litigate
© 1999 by Sidney Harris.
Back
UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL CARTOONS
Study the political cartoon and then answer the questions below.
1. Is it important to allow lawsuits to enforce contracts?
2. Should a case be denied a court hearing because there is not enough in monetary value at stake?
3. What type of court would probably handle Ms. Melnik’s suit?
ACTIVITY
Our current court system is the stepchild of historical accident and political innovation.
It is overloaded, understaffed, and in serious need of an overhaul. Assume you are in a position similar to the Constitutional Convention back in 1786 and design a new, innovative, dispute resolution system for our court system.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
13
Political Cartoons
6604_PCGE_CH07 4/25/02 4:32 PM Page 14
Back
Print
CARTOON
7
Discussion Guide and Answers
The Ability to Litigate
Discussion Guide
The ability to resolve problems involving personal injuries, breaches of contract, and allocation of property is the key to stability in any society. If the resolution by the central political authority is not seen as fair and proper, the litigants will seek personal revenge. The resulting chaos often will result in the fall of the government. Realize that in a typical litigation, each party, including the court, comes into the arena with its own definition of “justice.” In almost every instance, however, no single party ever receives that illusive quarry. Our courts are forums for compromise, be it in the civil or criminal docket. The results of a court test often are accepted only out of respect for the institution, fear of its sanctions, or financial or physical exhaustion from involvement in its procedures. The ultimate point made by the cartoon is that for the
Name
Class
CARTOON
7
Date
Civics Political Cartoon Activity
The Ability to Litigate
© 1999 by Sidney Harris.
Back
UNDERSTANDING POLITICAL CARTOONS
Study the political cartoon and then answer the questions below.
1. Is it important to allow lawsuits to enforce contracts?
2. Should a case be denied a court hearing because there is not enough in monetary value at stake?
3. What type of court would probably handle Ms. Melnik’s suit?
ACTIVITY
Our current court system is the stepchild of historical accident and political innovation.
It is overloaded, understaffed, and in serious need of an overhaul. Assume you are in a position similar to the Constitutional Convention back in 1786 and design a new, innovative, dispute resolution system for our court system.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
13
Political Cartoons
6604_PCGE_CH07 4/25/02 4:32 PM Page 14
Back
CARTOON
7
Discussion Guide and Answers
The Ability to Litigate
Discussion Guide
The ability to resolve problems involving personal injuries, breaches of contract, and allocation of property is the key to stability in any society. If the resolution by the central political authority is not seen as fair and proper, the litigants will seek personal revenge. The resulting chaos often will result in the fall of the government. Realize that in a typical litigation, each party, including the court, comes into the arena with its own definition of “justice.” In almost every instance, however, no single party ever receives that illusive quarry. Our courts are forums for compromise, be it in the civil or criminal docket. The results of a court test often are accepted only out of respect for the institution, fear of its sanctions, or financial or physical exhaustion from involvement in its procedures. The ultimate point made by the cartoon is that for the