Political Systems-8th Grade

Understand political systems, with an emphasis on the United States. Understand the relationship of the Church and its systems to political systems of the United States.

Understand and explain basic principles of the United States government. Understand the relationship of basic principles for the U.S. Government and the Catholic Church Government. Understand what God does for humanity. CSIS3    Understand and explain the human condition and the role and dignity of man in God’s plan CSIS8 Examine how one’s own life and life-choices creates a personal history with eternal consequences. CSIS3 (7 &8)         Demonstrate the ways mankind and societies change and/or persist over time to better understand the human condition. CSIS8 (7&8)

Understand the structures and functions of the political systems of Illinois, the United States, and other nations. Understand the relationship of Church structure and functions to the structures and functions of the political systems of the United States and other nations. Describe how we can learn about what God does for humanity. CSIS3    Understand and explain the human condition and the role and dignity of man in God’s plan. CSIS8      Discuss how Church structure and function can assist man in the acquisition of values and virtues. CSIS12        Identify what is positive in the world, what needs to be transformed, and what injustices must be overcome. CSDS4       Compare the actions of peoples according to their historical and cultural norms to current Catholic moral norms and virtues. CSIS11 (7&8)

Understand election processes and responsibilities of citizens. Understand the election process and special responsibilities of Catholic citizens. Value and develop a love for the common good and our shared humanity, not just with those around us, but for those who have gone before and those that will come after us. CSDS2         Identify the motivating values that have informed particular societies and how they correlate with Catholic teaching. CSIS7        Value one’s own role and dignity as man in God’s plan and creation. CSGS5          Compare the actions of peoples according to their historical and cultural norms to current Catholic moral norms and virtues. CSIS11 (7&8)

Understand the roles and influences of individuals and interest groups in the political systems of Illinois, the United States, and other nations. Understand the roles and influences of individual Catholics and Catholic interest groups.  Identify the differences among the values of various political systems and how they correlate with Catholic teaching. CSIS7         Recognize how the central themes within the stories of important Catholic figures and saints repeat over time. CSIS6        Explore how the moral qualities of the citizenry naturally give rise to the nature of the government and influence societal outcomes and destinies. CSIS13 (7&8)      Discuss thoughts and deeds of great men and women of the past. CSIS15

Understand United States foreign policy as it relates to other nations and international issues. Understand United States foreign policy as it relates to other nations and Catholic Church issues. Identify the motivating values that have informed particular societies and how they correlate with Catholic teaching. CSIS7      Explain what is positive in the world, what needs to be changed, and what injustices must be overcome. CSDS4      Explore how the moral qualities of the citizenry naturally give rise to the nature of the government and influence societal outcomes and destinies. CSIS13 (7&8)         Identify the dangers of relativism present in the notion that one culture cannot critique another, that truth is culturally created; or that truth is not to be shared and celebrated wherever found. CSIS27 (7&8)

Understand the development of the United States political ideas and traditions. Understand the development of religious/spiritual aspects of the United States political ideas and traditions. Explain the history of the Catholic Church and its impact in human events. CSIS4     Explain how one’s beliefs about God, about humanity, and about material things, affect one’s actions. CSIS7         Value the significance and impact to the Catholic Church throughout history. CSDS5         Internalize Catholic virtues and values from the study of human history to better evaluate one’s own behaviors, the trends of contemporary society, and prevalent social pressures and norms. CSDS4

Evaluate the rights and responsibilities of the individual within the family, social groups, community, or nation.

Categorize programs and services provided by governments into local, state, and federal levels.

Compare the similarities and differences in the state of Illinois and the national government’s attempts to protect individual rights and still promote the common good.

Explain the influence of the Supreme Court and significant court decisions on the rights and responsibilities of citizens (e.g., defining, expanding, and limiting individual rights).

Examine how the judicial system has impacted the life and dignity of persons. 

Analyze the efforts of our court system to take into account the rights of both those accused of crimes and their victims.

Identify and describe elements of political systems that support or contradict principles of the Catholic Church. 

Compare the powers and responsibilities of the members of the House of Representatives and Senate within the United States Congress.

. Explain the advantages of our federal system’s separation of powers.

Differentiate among the powers, limitations, and responsibilities of the state government of Illinois and the federal government.

Compare how political systems respond to the needs of its citizens with how the Church responds to the needs of its members.

Distinguish between the powers and responsibilities of our state and federal courts as outlined in our state and national constitutions.

Illustrate the organization of the three branches of the state government of Illinois.

Justify why the Illinois Constitution cannot violate the United States Constitution.

Plan and/or participate in service projects that help the community.

Describe responsibilities that citizens share during an election.

Study the impact Catholic Social Justice issues might have on citizens during an election.

Compare/contrast the historical positions of political parties in elections.

Compare historical examples of issues in local, state, or national elections affecting the civil rights of various groups.

Describe how voting barriers have been removed to allow greater participation in elections (e.g., common people gaining the right to vote, minority voting status).

Analyze an example of a government denying voting rights to individuals or groups.

Describe the election process at local, state, and national levels (e.g., campaigns, primaries, conventions).

Summarize the actions of an individual’s or group’s effort to influence current public policy in their community, state, or nation.

Compare and contrast the roles and influence of various individuals, groups, and media in shaping current public policy issues in their community, state, or nation.

Explain why Jesus calls us to a life of service and to use our talents to serve others.

Measure political interest or activity in a civic or social cause (e.g., conduct polls, create graphs, write polls, join in peaceful demonstration). 

Predict how technology and social change will impact the conduct of political parties.

Interpret political cartoons in terms of captions and images to persuade people to analyze political and religious positions on various issues.

Identify situations in which the United States diplomacy favors one nation over another (e.g., trade, military, protection). 

Compare the interests of the United States and other nations in making foreign policy decisions (e.g., defense, trade, environmental protection, communications); compare/contrast interests with Catholic Social Justice teachings.

Compare/contrast the ideals and interests of the United States in participating in international organizations.

Analyze cases of changing diplomatic relations between the United States and other people or nations (e.g., changing relations with Native American tribes, changing relations with the Soviet Union during and after World War II).

Predict the effects of technology on foreign policy decision-making.

Summarize the historical influences on the development of political ideas and practices as listed in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Illinois Constitution. 

Give examples of how United States political ideas and traditions have either included or denied additional amendments respecting or extending the rights of its citizens.

Analyze an influential U.S. Supreme Court case decision and the impact it had in promoting or limiting civil rights; compare/contrast with teachings of the Church.

Complete arguments for expanding or limiting freedoms and protection for citizens outlined in the Bill of Rights.