Supreme Court Immunity Ruling Reshapes Presidential Power
Ask students: Why should the president be presumed to be immune to prosecution for "official acts," according to the Supreme Court?
In one of the most anticipated rulings of the year, the Supreme Court declared that former President Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for any so-called “official act” taken as president, but not “unofficial ones'' taken as a candidate. Amna Nawaz discussed how the ruling reshapes presidential power with News Hour Supreme Court analyst Marcia Coyle and William Brangham.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Why should the president be presumed to be immune to prosecution for "official acts," according to the Supreme Court?
- Where are some of the places former President Donald Trump is on trial for alleged crimes while in office?
- How does this ruling impact ongoing cases against former president Donald Trump?
- Who wrote the dissent (disagreeing position) in this case?
- What was the argument used in the dissent?
Focus Questions
What do you think are some of the benefits and risks of presidents having legal protection for acts taken while president? What do you think will be the consequences of this decision on the ways presidents govern?
Media literacy: Why do you think the producers chose the two guests that appear in this segment? Who else might be able to help viewers understand the decision?
Extension Activity
As a class, read the following article explaining what the ruling means for cases against former president Trump. Then discuss how this ruling might affect the relationship between the three branches of government in the future.
- Why does the ruling "tilt power away from" courts and Congress and toward the presidency, according to commentator Steven Vladeck?
- What does the Supreme Court immunity ruling mean for Trump? 6 questions answered
The Supreme Court: Balancing the Branches Lesson Plans
Explore free, classroom-ready lessons on the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and the balance of power among the three branches. From landmark cases to today's biggest civic debates, Share My Lesson helps students build the background knowledge and critical-thinking skills to understand how government really works.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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