High School: Civics and Government

Develop Questions and Plan Inquiries 

Apply Disciplinary Concepts and Tools 

Evaluate Sources and Use Evidence 

Communicate Conclusions and Take Informed Action 

Foundations of American Democracy

Structure and Function of Government

Political Participation and Engagement

Explain how a question reflects an enduring issue in the United States Government.

Explain how supporting questions contribute to an inquiry and how new compelling and supporting questions emerge when engaging sources that represent varied perspectives.

Explain points of agreement and disagreement experts have about interpretations and applications of civic concepts and ideas associated with both compelling and supporting questions.

Apply disciplinary knowledge and practices to demonstrate an understanding of civics and government content.

Gather relevant information from multiple sources representing a wide range of views and mediums while using the origin, authority, structure, context, and corroborative value to guide the selection of credible sources.  

Organize and prioritize evidence directly and substantively from multiple sources in order to develop or strengthen claims (e.g., detect inconsistencies).

Refine claims and counterclaims by pointing out strengths and limitations of arguments and explanations (e.g., precision, significance, knowledge conveyed).

Construct arguments using precise and knowledgeable claims, with evidence from multiple sources, while acknowledging counterclaims and evidentiary weaknesses.

Construct explanations using sound reasoning, correct sequence, relevant examples, and pertinent details to contextualize evidence and arguments (e.g., chronology, causation, procedure).

Critique political arguments and explanations while acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses given the purpose and audience (credibility, bias, reasoning, sequencing, details).

Present arguments and explanations that feature evocative ideas and multiple perspectives about political issues and topics to reach a range of audiences and venues outside the classroom using print, oral, and digital technologies.

Analyze the characteristics and causation of local, regional, and global problems issues using a multidisciplinary lens.

Evaluate and implement strategies for individual and collective action to address local, regional, and global problems in classrooms, schools, and out-of school civic contexts.

Analyze how interpretations of the social contract theory of government influenced the founding of the United States government (e.g., Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Locke). 

Explain how the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution contributed to the establishment of a federal democratic republic (e.g., popular sovereignty, federalism). 

Describe how the United States Constitution organizes, enumerates, and divides power to create a limited government (e.g., separation of powers, checks and balances, necessary and proper clause, supremacy clause, 10th Amendment). 

Explain how the United States Constitution has been adapted and interpreted in response to societal changes in both historical and contemporary contexts (e.g., amendments, Marbury v. Madison, Brown v. Board of Education, Tinker v. DesMoines, Obergefell v. Hodges).  

Explain how federalism led to conflict between states and the federal government (e.g., healthcare, suffrage, taxation). 

Identify how the structure of state and local governments promote democratic principles and public participation (e.g., boards of education, Connecticut General Assembly, municipal government).

Evaluate how different levels of government work to promote civic virtue and enact democratic principles (e.g., municipal, state, and federal).

Analyze historical, contemporary, and emerging means of protecting, defending, and promoting constitutional rights in the United States (e.g., law-making, federal court system, constitutional amendments, Supreme Court decisions, exercising constitutional rights).

Analyze advocacy and activism in the United States related to a contemporary human rights issue using the United States Constitution and other historical sources (e.g., youth activism, journalism, social media, whistleblowers, protestors, strikes, boycotts, petitions, resistance).

Distinguish between the functions of local, state, tribal, and national governments in response to challenges (e.g., court decisions, executive orders, legislation, sovereignty, states’ rights). 

Distinguish between the powers and responsibilities of local, state, and federal election officials in facilitating free and fair election processes. 

Analyze how the United States' structures of state and local governments represent different models of democracy (e.g., direct democracy, representative government). 

Analyze the role and effectiveness of the legislative branch in addressing constituent and societal needs (e.g., Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, elections, political polling, representation, constituent services).

Analyze how elections and the electoral process are executed and maintained by constitutions and laws in the United States (e.g., voter registration, transfer of power, Electoral College, federalism).

Analyze how federal and state court systems are articulated and maintained by constitutions and laws in the United States (e.g., District Courts, Circuit Courts, Appellate Court, Supreme Court). 

Evaluate the relationship between law-making, enforcement, and interpretation in balancing the rights of the individual with the well being of society (e.g., Bill of Rights, Supreme Court cases).

Critique geopolitical relationships and their impact on governments, civil societies, and/ or economic markets (e.g., North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United States–Mexico– Canada Agreement, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Paris Agreement, World Health Organization). 

Evaluate how a regulation or law can create or eliminate systemic inequalities involving race, gender and sexuality, ability, socio-economic status, belief systems, or access to resources (e.g., gerrymandering, 14th Amendment, Plessy v. Ferguson, poll taxes, Sheff v. O’Neill, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Rehabilitation Act). 

Analyze the impact of United States policy decisions on other nations (e.g., immigration, trade, arms support, sanctions).  

Evaluate a United States trade policy in terms of costs and benefits (e.g., sanctions, subsidies, tariffs, trade agreements, employment). 

Describe the roles of the executive branch in developing and implementing economic policies in the United States (e.g., Department of the Treasury, Federal Reserve Board, Internal Revenue Service).

Analyze how historical contexts have shaped and continue to shape the ideologies and platforms of political parties in the United States (e.g., factions, partisanship). 

Analyze the role of individuals, groups, and the media in shaping political participation over time in the United States (e.g., interest groups, media bias, political parties).

Determine the extent to which elected officials represent constituent interests and perspectives (e.g., personal and professional experiences, policy positions, party affiliation, voting record).

Analyze trends in access to voting, voter turnout, and voter representation over time (e.g., gerrymandering, reapportionment, redistricting, voter socialization). 

Analyze the rights and responsibilities of individuals in the United States (e.g., 4th Amendment, trial by jury, jury service, interacting with law enforcement, voting).

Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used by an individual, group or institution in addressing a social problem at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international level (e.g., social protest movements, get-out-the-vote campaigns, conscious consumerism).

Evaluate the role of the media in addressing social and political problems or influencing elections (e.g., fourth estate, media bias, concentration of media ownership). 

Analyze how social contexts shape personal political beliefs and voting behavior.