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Government
Rationale: The mission of social studies is to prepare young people for informed
responsible citizenship now and in the future. This will be accomplished through the
study of economic, civic/political, social/cultural, historical and geographical
perspectives
Description: The study of American government helps students to develop a better
understanding of the foundations of our democracy. The relationships of the three
branches of this system are also considered. Citizenship, including both rights and
responsibilities, is stressed.
Major Instructional Goals:
Principles of Constitutional Democracy
Students will:
 Principles of constitutional democracy in the United States
o Apply the following concepts to historical and contemporary issues:
checks and balances, separation of powers, federalism, representation,
popular sovereignty, due process of law, judicial review
o Determine the civic responsibilities of individual citizens
o Identify and give examples of democracies and republics
o Assess the changing roles of government: philosophy, limits, duties
o Describe the historical foundations of the United States governmental
system
o Evaluate the roles and influence of political parties and interest groups
 Understanding the relevance and connection of constitutional principles
o Examine the relevance and connection of constitutional principles in the
following documents:
 Mayflower Compact
 Declaration of Independence
 Articles of Confederation
 U.S. Constitution
 Federalist Papers
 Amendments to Constitution, emphasizing Bill of Rights

Key Supreme Court decision (e.g., Marbury v. Madison,
McCulloch v. Maryland, Miranda v. Arizona, Plessy v. Ferguson,
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education)
United States History
Students will:

Political development in the United States
o Analyze the evolution of American democracy, its ideas, institutions and
political processes from colonial days to the present, including: American
Revolution, Constitution and amendments, Civil War and Reconstruction,
struggle for civil rights, expanding role of government
World History
Students will:

Effect of the Enlightenment on major revolutions
o Evaluate the Enlightenment, including its principle ideas, its antecedents,
its challenge to absolutist monarchies and others and its effects on world
history
Principles and Processes of Governance Systems
Students will:

Principles and purposes of government
o Describe the purposes and structure of laws and government (with
emphasis on the federal and state governments)
o Explain the importance of the following principles of government: limited
government, majority rule and minority rights, constitution and civil
rights, checks and balances, merits of the above principles

Similarities and differences of governmental systems
o Compare and contrast governmental systems, current and historical,
including those that are democratic, totalitarian, monarchic, oligarchic and
theocratic, and describe their impact

Processes of governmental systems
o Interpret the processes pertaining to: selection of political leaders (with an
emphasis on presidential and parliamentary systems); functions and styles
of leadership (including authoritarian, democratic and laissez faire);
governmental systems; how laws and rules are made, enforced, changed
and interpreted
Economic Concepts and Principles
Students will:

Understanding the roles of people, business and government in economic systems
of the United States
o Analyze the roles that people, business and government play in economic
systems, such as: monetary policy (why the Federal Reserve System
influences interest rates and money supply), fiscal policy (government
taxation and spending)

Understanding the roles of government in a market economy
o Identify the roles of government in a market economy (defining and
protecting property rights, maintaining competition, promoting goals such
as full employment, stable prices, growth and justice)
Relationships of Individual and Groups to Institutions and Traditions
Students will:
 Ideas and beliefs of different cultures
o Compare and contrast the major ideas and beliefs of different cultures
 Changing of roles of various groups
o Summarize how the roles of class, ethnic, racial, gender and age
groups have changed in society, including causes and effects
 Major social institutions
o Describe the major social institutions (family, education, religion,
economy and government) and how they fulfill human needs
 Consequences of individual or institutional failure
o Identify the consequences that can occur when: institutions fail to
meet the needs of individuals and groups; individuals fail to carry out
their personal responsibilities
 Causes, effects and resolutions of cultural conflict
o Determine the causes, consequences and possible resolutions of
cultural conflicts
Tools of Social Science Inquiry
Students will:
 Developing a research plan and identifying resources
o Develop a research plan and identify appropriate resources to
investigating social studies topics
 Selecting and analyzing primary/secondary sources
o Distinguish between and analyze primary and secondary sources
 Understanding fact, opinion, bias and points of view in sources
o Distinguish between fact and pinion and analyze sources to recognize
bias and points of view
 Interpreting various social-studies resources
o Interpret maps, statistics, charts, diagrams, graphs, timelines, pictures,
political cartoons, audiovisual materials, continua, written resources,
art and artifacts
 Knowledge to create various social-studies’ graphics
o Create maps, charts, diagrams, graphs, timelines and political cartoons
to assist in analyzing and visualizing concepts in social studies