United States Government

compare the formation of contemporary governments in terms of access, use and justification of power.

• SOC.9-12.USG.1.1(Objective)

  Compare the essential characteristics of limited versus unlimited governments.

• SOC.9-12.USG.1.2(Objective)

  Compare historic and contemporary examples of unlimited governments to examples of limited systems.

• SOC.9-12.USG.1.3(Objective)

  Compare the advantages and disadvantages of the ways governmental power is distributed, shared and structured in unitary, federal and confederal systems in terms of effectiveness, prevention of abuse of power and responsiveness to the popular will.

• SOC.9-12.USG.1.4(Objective)

  Compare the role of government in market and command economic systems.

describe the historical and philosophical foundations of the republican system of government in the United States.

• SOC.9-12.USG.2.1(Objective)

  Summarize the major documents contributing to the formation of constitutional government in the United States, including the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact and the English Bill of Rights.

• SOC.9-12.USG.2.2(Objective)

  Identify the central ideas and importance of the concept of inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the social contract, and the grievances stated in the Declaration of Independence and reflected in the Constitution of the United States.

• SOC.9-12.USG.2.3(Objective)

  Evaluate the necessity of a written constitution to set forth enumerated powers, to organize government, and to distribute powers among the three branches of government, the states, and the people.

• SOC.9-12.USG.2.4(Objective)

  Compare the points of view toward the structure and powers of government as expressed in the Federalist Papers, authored by Madison, Hamilton and Jay, as well as the writings of the Anti-Federalists.

• SOC.9-12.USG.2.5(Objective)

  Analyze the constitutional amendment process including the 27 amendments to the Constitution of the United States.

analyze the fundamental principles of the American system of government resulting in a republic, as established in the Constitution of the United States, the supreme law of the land.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.1(Objective)

  Examine the American system of federalism and evaluate the changes that have occurred in the relationship between the states and the national government over time.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.2(Objective)

  Analyze the system of federalism including the:

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.2A

    enumerated (express) powers

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.2B

    implied powers

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.2C

    powers denied to the national government

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.2D

    reserved powers to the states

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.2E

    concurrent powers

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.3(Objective)

  Summarize and explain the relationships and the responsibilities among national, state, tribal, and local governments.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.4(Objective)

  Explain that tribal sovereignty is a tribal nation’s inherent power to self-govern, such as challenges made regarding the Major Crimes Act.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.5(Objective)

  Analyze how the Commerce Clause established the initial constitutional relationship between the Indian tribes and the United States government.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.6(Objective)

  Explain how power is separated as well as shared under the American system including the:

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.6A

    system of separation of powers

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.6B

    system of checks and balances

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.6C

    principle of judicial review

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.7(Objective)

  Evaluate the importance of the rule of law on the purposes and functions of government; explain how the rule of law provides for the protection of individual liberties, including due process and equality under the law.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.8(Objective)

  Analyze the concept of popular sovereignty, including the government’s responsibility to legitimize majority rule while protecting minority rights.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.9(Objective)

  Analyze the rights and liberties guaranteed to all citizens in the Bill of Rights and how they are protected at the state level through the doctrine of incorporation using the 14th Amendment.

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.10(Objective)

  Analyze historic and contemporary examples of landmark Supreme Court decisions which have addressed and clarified individual rights under the First Amendment, including:

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.10A

    Gitlow v. New York (1925)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.10B

    West Virginia v. Barnette (1943)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.10C

    Engel v. Vitale (1962)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.10D

    Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.10E

    Texas v. Johnson (1989)

• SOC.9-12.USG.3.11(Objective)

  Analyze historic and contemporary examples of landmark Supreme Court cases which have specified individual rights of due process under the Constitution, including:

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.11A

    Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.11B

    Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.11C

    Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.11D

    Roe v. Wade (1973)

  • SOC.9-12.USG.3.11E

    Furman v. Georgia (1972)

examine the Constitution of the United States by comparing the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government as they address the needs of the public.

• SOC.9-12.USG.4.1(Objective)

  Explain the purposes of government expressed in the Preamble and how the Constitution of the United States preserves the core principles of American society.

• SOC.9-12.USG.4.2(Objective)

  Examine the structure, functions, and authority exercised by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

  • SOC.9-12.USG.4.2A

    Identify the constitutional qualifications for holding public office and the terms of office, including the composition of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the executive branch.

  • SOC.9-12.USG.4.2B

    Explain the steps of the legislative process, including the role of Congress and the president.

  • SOC.9-12.USG.4.2C

    Explain the role of the executive branch, including the function of the bureaucracy in implementing public policy.

  • SOC.9-12.USG.4.2D

    Identify the issues and describe the significance of landmark Supreme Court decisions including Marbury v. Madison (1803), McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), United States v. Nixon (1974), Bush v. Gore (2000), and Citizens United v. F.E.C. (2010).

  • SOC.9-12.USG.4.2E

    Examine how government exercises its authority in real world situations including current issues and events.

be able to evaluate the significance of civic participation in order to ensure the preservation of our constitutional government.

• SOC.9-12.USG.5.1(Objective)

  Define civic virtue and explain the individual’s duty and responsibility to participate in civic life by voting, serving on juries, volunteering within the community, running for office, serving on a political campaign, paying state and federal taxes prior to the April 15th annual deadline, and respecting legitimate authority.

• SOC.9-12.USG.5.2(Objective)

  Explain the naturalization process under the laws of the United States.

• SOC.9-12.USG.5.3(Objective)

  Analyze how our system of government provides citizens opportunities to monitor and influence the actions of the government and hold elected officials accountable.

• SOC.9-12.USG.5.4(Objective)

  Analyze factors affecting the political process and their role in government, including the role of political parties, interest groups, mass media, public opinion, and campaign funding.

• SOC.9-12.USG.5.5(Objective)

  Explain the steps of the electoral process including the components of local and national campaigns, the nominative process, and the Electoral College.

examine the United States public policy formation process.

• SOC.9-12.USG.6.1(Objective)

  Examine the budget process including significant policy issues and examples of economic tradeoffs that occur when addressing competing public needs.

• SOC.9-12.USG.6.2(Objective)

  Examine how the government influences the economy using fiscal and monetary policy.

• SOC.9-12.USG.6.3(Objective)

  Explain the role of the national government in formulating and carrying out domestic policy.

• SOC.9-12.USG.6.4(Objective)

  Evaluate the role of the national government in formulating and carrying out foreign policy, national defense, and participation in international alliances and organizations.