Senior Social/American Govt. 4 – Grade 12

District 2853

Month

Content

Performance Standards Addressed

Skills for Student Achievement

Assessment

 

1.5 Weeks

·         Origins of Government

 

·         Understand/Explain the need for government

·         Compare student governments to our state and national governments

·         Describe the 4 basic types of government

·         Explain the 3 systems of government

·         Describe the functions of government, it’s purposes

·         Weigh the pros and cons of the various forms of government

·         Analyze the Declaration of Independence and what it meant for America

·         Explain the realistic options the U.S. had to choose from when forming a government

 

2.5 Weeks

·         Development of our American Government/ Constitution

 

·         Locate where the framers ‘stole’ the various parts that make up our government

·         Describe the early attempts at creating government in America

·         Explain some of the compromises made

·         Analyze the Articles of Confederation and give reasons why it was unsuccessful

·         Describe some of the major compromises that allowed that government to become a reality at the Constitutional Convention

·         Break down the Preamble of the Constitution

·         Describe the Articles to the Constitution

·         Analyze the Bill of Rights and its effects on us

·         Compare and contrast the U.S. Constitution to other constitutions

·         Form an opinion on the genius of the framers

 

2 Weeks

·         Powers of Government

 

·         Describe the reasons we ended up with a federal system

·         List examples of Expressed, Implied, and Inherent Powers

·         Describe the powers reserved to the states

·         Explain the relations among the states

·         Discuss differences between state laws

·         Explain the difference between dual and cooperative federalism and the societal

 

      changes that cause the shift from one to the

      other

·         Identify the clauses in the Constitution that apply to government powers

·         Explain the reasons the framers separated powers and implemented the system of checks and balances

 

2 Weeks

·         Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities

 

·         Recite the Miranda Warning and explain how it affects us

 

 

·         Criminal Proceedings

 

·         List the steps one would go through from arrest to sentence

·         Describe examples of legal and illegal forms of evidence

·         Describe the process of a hearing and a trial

·         Explain what jury duty is and the expectations of those chosen

·         Describe the difference between procedural and substantive due process

·         Discuss some of the controversial laws/crimes of the day

·         Discuss and develop alternative sentences

 

1.5 Weeks

·         Citizenship

 

·         Describe the 3 ways one can become a U.S. citizen

·         Explain the naturalization process

·         Analyze the qualifications one must meet to be a citizen

·         Describe the 5 classifications of aliens

·         Explain the ways one can lose their citizenship

·         Describe the 8 responsibilities of all U.S. citizens

·         Compare and contrast civil rights and civil liberties

·         Explain the successes and failures of Multiculturalism in the U.S.

·         Discuss the effects of affirmative action

·         Explain the accomplishments of minorities in our society

 

2.5 Weeks

·         Elections and Voting

 

·         Identify the roles played by political parties in our society

·         Describe the methods of campaigning used in the U.S.

·         Explain the influence of interest groups in our political system

·         Identify the historical and recent successes of third parties

·         Describe the process a candidate goes through to get on the ballot

·         Draw examples of the different balloting methods used in the U.S.

·         Explain the difference between the 5 primaries used in the U.S.

·         Identify when general election day takes place and why it remains that way

·         Discuss the merit in making election day a national holiday

·         Explain the role polls play

·         Explain how the Electoral College works and the pros and cons of the system

 

3 Weeks

·         Congress

 

·         List  the qualifications of congressmen

·         Identify the benefits/salaries of our congressmen

·         Discuss reasons for the lengths of terms

·         Explain the roles that our congressmen are expected to perform

·         Describe the power/leadership positions in both houses

·         Explain gerrymandering and the ways it takes place

·         Discuss the merits of imposing term limits

·         Compare the advantages and disadvantages for incumbents/challengers

·         Analyze the duties of congressional committees

·         Review the process of bills becoming laws

·         Describe the influence of the President and the Supreme Court over Congress

 

2 Weeks

·         Executive Branch/ Presidency

 

·         List the qualifications needed to be President (official and unofficial)

·         Identify the benefits of being President

·         Explain the roles played the President

·         List the powers possessed by the President

·         List the line of succession and explain Presidential disability

·         Identify the current cabinet and tier respective job expectations.  Explain the power positions in the cabinet

·         Explain the responsibilities of the 15 executive departments

·         Rank the greatest Presidents and be able to defend them

 

1 Week

·         Judiciary

 

·         Explain/Describe our Federal and State court systems

·         Describe the variety of jobs available in the court systems

·         Describe the different types of courts we have and their respective jurisdictions

·         Explain the roles and influence of the Supreme Court

·         List the qualifications/benefits for supreme court justices and judges in the lower courts

·         Identify the major S.C. cases in our history and their lasting affect on society