U.S. Government

Nature of Politics and Government 

Foundations of Government in the United States

Purposes, Principles, and Institutions of the Government of the United States

Relationship of the United States to Other Nations in World Affairs

Roles of Citizens in the United States

Identify a role or activity of individuals in civic life (e.g., volunteering), political life (e.g., voting), or private life (e.g., personal interests). (E) 

Identify the meanings of and relationship between the terms politics, government, and public policy.

Analyze functions or purposes of government found in the Preamble of the United States Constitution. (E)

Identify defining characteristics of different types of government, including representative democracy, monarchy, and totalitarianism. Compare and contrast to identify one similarity and one difference. 

Identify characteristics of unitary, confederate, and federal systems of government. Compare and contrast to identify one similarity and one difference.

Identify an example of constitutionalism, rule of law, limited government, or popular sovereignty in the United States Constitution and how they protect the rights of individuals.

Give an example of how the United States Constitution establishes majority rule while protecting minority rights, or protects individual liberties. (E)

Identify events from the colonial, revolutionary, or Founding-era that led to the creation of the United States Constitution (1787) or Bill of Rights (1791). 

Define compromise and give an example of compromise that arose during the Constitutional Convention (e.g., Three-Fifths Compromise or Great Compromise). 

Analyze a founding document of the United States (Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, or Bill of Rights) and identify an example of a central idea on government, individual rights, or the common good. 

Identify foundational rights of American government from the Founding-era documents (e.g., natural rights philosophy, popular sovereignty, representative democracy, federalism, or individual rights). 

Identify how a shared American civic identity is based on commitment to foundational ideas in Founding-era documents.

Explain historical or contemporary examples of fundamental principles or values of American political or civil life (e.g., liberty, security, the common good, justice, equality, law and order, rights of individuals, diversity, popular sovereignty, or representative democracy). 

Analyze the United States Constitution and identify a characteristic in the United States government that defines it as a federal, presidential, constitutional, or representative democracy.

Identify examples of the constitutional principles of federalism, separation of powers, the system of checks and balances, or republican government in the United States or Indiana. (E) 

Classify a given power in the United States Constitution or the Indiana Constitution as enumerated, implied, or denied.

Describe the separation and sharing of powers of the United States government or the Indiana government and how this provides a limited government. (E)

Identify the key steps in the legislative process of how a bill becomes a law in the United States. 

Identify the procedures for amending the United States and Indiana Constitutions, and explain why it is so difficult to amend these Constitutions. 

Describe a function of the judicial branch of the United States, and identify the principles of due process, judicial review, and/or an independent judiciary. (E)

Identify the steps in the electoral processes at the national, state, or local levels. (E)

Identify Benjamin Harrison and key events or characteristics of his presidency (e.g., his approach to the presidency, his relationship to the legislative branch, and his re-election defeat). 

Analyze the functions of political parties in elections and government at the national, state, or local levels of the federal system. 

Identify why the Electoral College was created and explain its role in national elections today.

Identify one role of state or local governments in Indiana and explain how that role affects the lives of citizens. (E)

Describe the influence of the media or technology on public opinion and public policy. (E)

Identify powers the United States Constitution gives to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government in the area of foreign affairs. 

Identify a key world issue (e.g., political, cultural, demographic, economic, or environmental challenges) that affects United States foreign policy in a specific region of the world.

Describe how a specific foreign policy issue can impact local community or state interests.

Identify the legal meaning of citizenship in the United States, and explain the difference between citizenship in the United States and residency in Indiana. (E) 

Describe roles or responsibilities of citizens in the United States. (E)

Identify and describe a civil or a constitutional right found in the United States Constitution or Bill of Rights and identify how a major landmark case of the Supreme Court concerning civil rights expanded individual rights or liberties. (E) 

Identify examples of a constitutional limit on individual rights and reasons why the government would want to do this. (E)

Describe a key citizen action that can impact local, state, or federal government as either an individual or as a member of an interest group.

Explain how citizens in the United States participate in public elections as either voters or as supporters of candidates for public office. (E)

Describe a way individuals may contribute to the well-being of their communities or participate responsibly in the political process at local, state, or national levels of government.

Use a variety of sources to describe current American political issues.