Constitutional Origins of the Federal Judiciary

This teaching module was developed by the Federal Judicial Center to support judges and court staff who want to speak to various groups about the history of an independent federal judiciary. It focuses on the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the establishment of the judicial branch of government. Other modules in this series examine the creation of the federal judicial system and debates on judicial independence. Each module includes four components: background discussion to serve as talking points; a Powerpoint presentation that can be downloaded to provide a visual guide to the speakers' remarks; a list of suggested discussion questions; and selections from historical documents that can be used in discussion with the audience or incorporated in the speakers' remarks.