Constitutional Law and Courts
American Collegiate Moot Court Association
In many constitutional law courses across the country, college undergraduates participate in Supreme Court simulations (moot court). Some schools form competitive teams and compete in intramural events in statewide competitions, or they can enter tournaments sponsored by the American Collegiate Moot Court Association (ACMA) – the only national organization dedicated to intercollegiate moot court.
American Mock Trial Association
The AMTA is the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition. AMTA hosts 24 regional, eight opening round championships, and one national tournament each year.
Nine different games that test student knowledge of Supreme Court history and landmark cases.
From the website: "PDP is based at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School (PON). PON is an inter-university consortium (Harvard, MIT, and Tufts) devoted to improving the theory and practice of dispute resolution. It was created in the early 1980s to make it easier for scholars from a variety of disciplines to work together and for scholars and practitioners to interact more effectively. The teaching resources include over four dozen simulations and role playing exercises involving negotiation, mediation, and collective bargaining.
Articles, Books, and Conference Papers
Ambrosio, Thomas. 2006. “Trying Saddam Hussein: Teaching International Law through an Undergraduate Mock Trial.” International Studies Perspectives 7(2): 159-71. Abstract
Auerbach, Arthur H. 2013. “United States Supreme Court Confirmation Simulation: Learning through the Process of Experience.” PS: Political Science and Politics 46(4): 808-12. Abstract
Baker, Nancy V. 1994. “Oyez, Oyez, Oyez: The Trials of Teaching the Supreme Court.” PS: Political Science and Politics 27(2): 253-5. Abstact
Bengston, Teri J. and Katrina L. Sifferd. 2010. “The Unique Challenges Posed by Mock Trial: Evaluation and Assessment of a Simulation Course.” Journal of Political Science Education 6(1): 70-86. Abstract
Bridge, Dave. 2013. “The Settlement Game: A Simulation Teaching Institutional Theories of Public Law.” PS: Political Science and Politics 46(4): 813-7. Abstract
Bridge, Dave. 2014. "You Sunk My Constitution: Using a Popular Off-the-Shelf Board Game to Simulate Political Concepts." Journal of Political Science Education 10(3): 186-203. Abstract
Canon, Bradley C. 1998. “Simulating the Certiorari Process.” Law and Courts 8(1): 5-8.
Carlson, J. Lon, and Neil T. Skaggs. 2000. “Learning by Trial and Error: A Case for Moot Courts.” The Journal of Economic Education 31(2): 145-55. Abstract
Cooperman, Rosalyn. 2012. "Law Making and Law Interpreting in the Land of Oz: Using Simulations to Draw Back the Curtains of the American Legislative and Judicial Processes." Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Washington, DC, February 17-19. Contact
Dolan, Julie and Marni Ezra. 2002. CQ’s Supreme Court Simulation: Government in Action. (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press)
Fliter, John. 2009. “Incorporating a Sophisticated Supreme Court Simulation into an Undergraduate Constitutional Law Class.” Journal of Political Science Education 5(1): 12-26. Abstract
Gates, John B. 2013. "Using an Online Simulation of Supreme Court Decision Making in Large Classes." Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Long Beach, CA, February 8-10. Abstract
Gates, John B. 2011. "An Online Simulation of the Decision Making of the Supreme Court." Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Albuquerque, NM, February 11-13. Contact
Hardy, Richard J., Chapman Rackaway, and Laurie E. Sonnier. 2005. “In the Supreme Court Justices' Shoes: Critical Thinking through the use of Hypothetical Case Law Analyses and Interactive Simulations.” PS: Political Science and Politics 38(3): 411-4. Abstract
Hensley, Thomas R. 1993. “Come to the Edge: Role Playing Activities in a Constitutional Law Class.” PS: Political Science and Politics 26(1): 64-68. Abstract
Hernandez, Michael V. 1998. “In Defense of Moot Court: A Response to 'in Praise of Moot Court - Not!” The Review of Litigation 17(69): 69-89. Abstract
Kravetz, Katherine. 2001. “The Mock Trial Course in Justice Education.” Journal of Criminal Justice Education 12(1): 147-68. Abstract
Pacelle, Richard L. 1989. “Simulating Supreme Court Decision Making.” Political Science Teacher 2(2): 9-11. Abstract
Pautz, Michelle C. 2011. “Challenging the Constitution: Covening a Mock Constitutional Convention for American Government Students.” PS: Political Science and Politics 44(3): 648-51. Abstract
Ringel, Lewis S. 2004. “Designing a Moot Court: What to do, what Not to do, and Suggestions for how to do it.” PS: Political Science and Politics 37(3): 459-65. Abstract
Rosato, Jennifer L. 1995. “All I Ever Needed to Know about Teaching Law School I Learned Teaching Kindergarten: Introducing Gaming Techniques into the Law School Classroom.” Journal of Legal Education 45(4): 568-81.
Smith, Daniel. 2012. “iNcourt: Using a Virtual Supreme Court to Enhance the Traditional Simulation Experience.” Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Washington, DC, February 17-19. Abstract
Smith, Daniel. 2010. “Mini-Moot Court: Use of the Abbreviated Simulation in Teaching Constitutional Law.” Paper presented at the APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, Philadelphia, PA, February 5-7. Contact
Vile, John R., and Thomas R. Van Dervort. 1994. “Revitalizing Undergraduate Programs through Intercollegiate Mock Trial Competition.” PS: Political Science and Politics 27(4): 712-5. Abstract
Whitaker, Steve. 1973. “A Role-Playing Simulation of the United States Supreme Court.” Teaching Political Science 1(1): 47-58. Abstract
Williams, Ryan J., and Anthony J. Chergosky. 2019. "Teaching Judicial Politics Through a Supreme Court Simulation." Journal of Political Science Education 15(1): 17-36. Abstract
Woessner, Matthew, Kathleen H. Winters, and Kyle C. Kopko. 2017. "Bridge Over the River Qua: Using Simulations to Span the Divide Between PreLaw and Political Science Students." Journal of Political Science Education 13(2): 225-238. Abstract
Zeigler, Sara and Sheena Moran. 2008. “Revisiting Adam’s Rib: Student Performance, Gender Stereotyping, and Trial Simulations.” Journal of Political Science Education 4(2): 187-204. Abstract
