Supreme Court Rules on Homeless Encampments, Administrative State and Jan. 6 Cases
Ask students: Where did the conservative majority uphold an ordinance that criminalized behaviors associated with homelessness?
On Friday, June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a trio of major decisions. The justices upheld a law making it a crime for unhoused people to camp in public areas like parks, sidewalks and plazas, narrowed the scope of a law being used to prosecute Jan. 6 rioters and weakened the rule-making powers of regulatory agencies.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- What is the Chevron deference?
- Where did the conservative majority uphold an ordinance that criminalized behaviors associated with homelessness?
- How many defendants are charged for the riot and the attack on the U.S. Capitol?
- Who is Shaun Donovan?
- Why does Donovan say that criminalizing homelessness doesn’t work?
Focus Questions
The Supreme Court’s decision on Grants Pass v. Johnson will allow more aggressive sweeps of homeless encampments by law enforcement. While some argue that the decision will improve public safety, others emphasize that it criminalizes homelessness for basic biological functions like sleeping and does little to improve local communities.
What do you think and feel about the Supreme Court decision on encampments of unhoused communities? What responsibilities do you think governments have for its unhoused community members?
Media literacy: Who would you want to hear more about as a response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Grants Pass v. Johnson? For a perspective from the homeless community, read this statement from the National Union of the Homeless.
Extension Activity
Watch this PBS interview on the causes of homelessness. Then, discuss:
1. What do you think are some important causes of housing crises and homelessness?
2. What do you think are the best ways for the government and communities to address homelessness?
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
Advertisement
