United States Government and Civics

Social Studies Practices

Foundations of Constitutional Government: Students will explain the fundamental principles of American government, as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American federalism.

The Legislative Branch: Students will analyze the functions of the legislative branch of the federal government.

The Executive Branch: Students will analyze the functions of the executive branch of the federal government.

The Judicial Branch: Students will analyze the functions of the judicial branch of the federal government

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Students will identify variousliberties that are ensured through the Constitution and analyze court cases that have impacted the ways our liberties are protected.

Tennessee State and Local Government: Students will identify state leaders and explain state and local governance in Tennessee through exploration of the various structures and functions of government.

Citizen Participation: Students will examine the responsibilities and opportunities of a citizen of the United States.

Collect data and information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including:

Critically examine a primary or secondary source in order to:

Synthesize data from a variety of sources in order to:

Construct and communicate arguments by citing supporting evidence to:

Develop historical awareness by:

Develop geographic awareness by:

Describe the purpose and functions of government.

Compare and contrast different forms of government, such as monarchy, oligarchy, democracy, and republic.

Analyze the influence of various thinkers on the formation of U.S. government, such as William Blackstone, John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, and Thomas Hobbes.

Analyze the influence of past governments on the formation of the United States, such as Greek democracy, Roman republic, the Magna Carta, and the Mayflower Compact.

Examine the Declaration of Independence and American grievances against British rule.

Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Discuss the Constitutional Convention of 1787, including major compromises (e.g., Great Compromise, Three-Fifths Compromise, importation of enslaved people, and the electoral college).

Identify key debates surrounding the ratification of the constitution between the Federalists (e.g., Federalist Papers) and Anti-federalists (e.g., Brutus Papers).

Describe the purposes of government as outlined in the Preamble of the Constitution.

Describe principles of limited government in the U.S. Constitution, including:

Describe the structure of the Constitution and the process to amend it.

Analyze Article I and the 17th Amendment of the Constitution as they relate to the legislative branch, including:

Describe the census and its role in redistricting and reapportionment, including the role of Baker v. Carr and Shaw v. Reno.

Identify leadership positions in the legislative branch and describe their roles, including:

Describe the legislative process from the introduction of a bill to a presidential action.

Identify Tennessee’s U.S. Senators and the representative for the student’s respective district.

Identify the enumerated, implied, and concurrent powers of the U.S. Congress.

Explain the process and significance of congressional elections (e.g., mid-term elections).

Identify the arguments in Federalist Paper #70 that addresses the establishment of the executive office.

Analyze Article II of the Constitution as it relates to the executive branch, including:

Describe the various powers and roles of the presidency, including:

Identify and describe the functions of executive branch departments and agencies (e.g., bureaucracies) in the United States, including:

Trace the sequence of a presidential election from initial candidacy through inauguration.

Explain the Electoral College system, and compare and contrast arguments for and against it.

Identify the arguments in Federalist Paper #78 that addresses the establishment of the federal courts system.

Analyze Article III of the Constitution as it relates to judicial power, including the length of terms and the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Explain the processes of selection and confirmation of Supreme Court justices.

Explain the principle of judicial review established by Marbury v. Madison, and how it is used as a check on other branches of federal and state governments.

Analyze how the Bill of Rights limits the powers of the government and ensures individual rights. (T.C.A. § 49-6-1028)

Analyze the First Amendment and its application to freedom of speech in historical and contemporary Supreme Court cases, including Schenck v. United States and Tinker v. Des Moines.

Analyze the First Amendment and its application to freedom of religion in historical and contemporary Supreme Court cases, including Engel v. Vitale and Wisconsin v. Yoder

Analyze the First Amendment and its application to freedom of press in historical and contemporary Supreme Court cases, including New York Times Co. v. United States and Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier.

Describe the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the Second Amendment, including:

Describe the Supreme Court’s interpretations of freedoms in the Fourth through Eighth Amendments, including:

Describe the Supreme Court’s interpretations of the freedoms in the 14th Amendment, equal protection, and due process clauses, including:

Explain how constitutional provisions have supported and motivated social movements to expand the rights for under-represented groups.

Explain how the government has responded to social movements (e.g., Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Americans with Disabilities Act).

Explain developments in voting rights over time (e.g., 15th amendment, 19th amendment, Citizenship Act of 1924, Voting Rights Act of 1965, 24th Amendment, 26th Amendment, Shelby County v. Holder).

Identify the structures and functions of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments in the state of Tennessee.

Explain the differences among the types of local governments in Tennessee, including county, city, and metro governments, as well as the legal, fiscal, and operational relationships between them and the state government.

Identify current government officials at the state and local level.

Describe what should be reasonably expected from any citizen or resident of the United States, and explain why it is important for the well-being of the nation, including:

Explain why civic engagement is important for the well-being of the nation and local communities.

Evaluate the benefits and challenges of digital news and social media to a democratic society.

Explain methods for evaluating information and opinion in print and online media (e.g., identifying author's purpose, determining the credibility of news articles, analyzing the messages of editorials and op-ep commentaries, assessing the validity of claims and sufficiency of evidence).

Describe opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process and to monitor and influence government, including:

Explain the requirements to be considered a U.S. citizen, and describe the process of naturalization, including the knowledge required by the Naturalization Test.

Printed materials

Graphic representations

Field observations/Landscape analysis

Artifacts

Media and technology sources

Oral History

Extract, summarize, and paraphrase significant ideas and relevant information

Discern differences between evidence and assertion

Recognize the significance of author’s purpose, point of view, and bias

Draw logical inferences and conclusions

Assess the strengths and limitations of arguments

Establish accuracy and validity by comparing sources to each other

Recognize disparities among multiple accounts

Frame appropriate questions for further investigation

Demonstrate and defend an understanding of ideas

Compare and contrast viewpoints

Illustrate cause and effect

Predict likely outcomes

Devise new outcomes or solutions

Engage in appropriate civic discourse

Recognizing how and why historical accounts change over time

Perceiving and presenting past events and issues as they might have been experienced by the people of the time, with historical empathy vs. present- mindedness

Evaluating how unique circumstances of time and place create context and contribute to action and reaction

Identifying patterns of continuity and change over time, making connections to the present

Analyzing and determining the use of diverse types of maps based on the origin, authority, structure, context, and validity

Using the geographic perspective to analyze relationships, patterns, and diffusion across space at multiple scales

Analyzing locations, conditions, and connections of places and using maps to investigate spatial associations among phenomena

Examining how geographers use regions and how perceptions of regions are fluid across time and space

Analyzing interaction between humans and the physical environment

Checks and balances

Federalism

Judicial Review

Popular sovereignty

Rule of law

Separation of powers

Election to office for representatives and senators

Eligibility for office

Length of terms

Roles and responsibilities

Majority and minority leaders

President pro tempore

Role of the vice president

Speaker of the House

Length of Term (i.e., 22nd Amendment)

Eligibility for office

Oath of office

Succession (i.e., 25th Amendment)

Impeachment

Commander-in-Chief

Treaty negotiation

Appointments

Executive orders

Pardons and clemency

Defense

State

Treasury

Justice

District of Columbia vs. Heller

McDonald vs. Chicago

The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. vs. Bruen

Mapp vs. Ohio

Gideon vs. Wainwright

Miranda vs. Arizona

Plessy vs. Ferguson and Brown vs. Board of Education

Roe vs. Wade and Dobbs vs. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization

Loving vs. Virginia and Obergefell vs. Hodges

Being informed on civic issues

Serving in the military or alternative service

Obeying the law

Paying taxes

Volunteering and performing public service

Respecting the rights of others

Serving as a juror

Engaging in the voting process

Understanding unalienable rights

Campaigning

Petitioning

Demonstrating

Running for office

Lobbying

Voting