United States Government: Grades 9, 10, 11, 12

Political Philosophy

Structure of the Constitution

Structure and Functions of the Government

Interpretation and Application of Constitutional Principles

Students will analyze the multiple perspectives of various sources that shaped the formation of the United States government.

Students will analyze the rationale of the Founding Fathers in selecting a republican, representative democracy over other forms of government.

Students will analyze the organization and content of the United States Constitution.

Students will analyze the structure, organization, and functions of the federal government.

Students will analyze the concept of federalism in the United States.

Students will assess the relationship between the federal government and the economy.

Students will analyze various interpretations of the U.S. Constitution.

Students will analyze the application of U.S. constitutional principles to address local and national issues.

Examine multiple points of view from a variety of Greek, Roman, and Enlightenment thinkers to discuss ways they influenced the formation of the United States government

Analyze the influence of social, economic, and political factors within the American colonies on the formation of the American government

Analyze social, economic, and political factors that influenced the American colonists to overthrow British monarchial rule

Analyze social, economic, and political factors that influenced the Founding Fathers to limit the powers of government

Evaluate the Declaration of Independence as a persuasive argument justifying revolution

Construct explanations of the decision to establish a republican, representative democracy by the Founding Fathers

Analyze the underlying causes and events that led the Founding Fathers to replace the Articles of Confederation with the U.S. Constitution

Analyze the purposes of government in relation to the Preamble

Evaluate the rationale for the organization of articles of the U.S. Constitution

Analyze the purposes of the Bill of Rights

Compare the arguments expressed in the debate over ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Analyze the powers and responsibilities of the federal government

Analyze the reasons for and effectiveness of a system of checks and balances within the federal government

Examine the composition and roles of the presidential cabinet and federal agencies and continuity and change over time

Evaluate the role of the federal bureaucracy as a "fourth branch" of the federal government

Analyze the foundation and structure of federalism as prescribed in the Supremacy Clause of Article VI and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution

Analyze the division of power and interrelationships between federal and state government

Analyze the relationships among the states as prescribed in the Full Faith and Credit Clause of Article IV

Examine the reasons and processes for amending the U.S. Constitution

Analyze the impact of the federal government's fiscal policy on the economy

Evaluate the roles various government agencies play in maintaining the nation's economic health

Analyze major U.S. Supreme Court decisions affecting our understanding of the U.S. Constitution

Explain ways the U.S. Constitution and U.S. Supreme Court decisions have and have not protected civil liberties from governmental intrusion

Evaluate how judicial activism and judicial restraint have affected U.S. Supreme Court decisions over time

Analyze various federal laws, policies, and rulings concerning civil rights of individuals and groups

Examine various reasons for and subsequent effects of amendments to the U.S. Constitution after the Bill of Rights

Apply constitutional principles to a variety of current issues

Analyze local and national issues addressing fundamental rights of individuals