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eLECTIONS State Standards - District of Columbia


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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PS SOCIAL STUDIES CONTENT STANDARDS ALL

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PS SOCIAL STUDIES / CIVICS / ELECTIONS GRADE 12 (PDF)


Grade 12

E L E C T I O N S  A N D  T H E  P O L I T I C A L  P R O C E S S

12.6. Broad Concept: Students evaluate issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices. Students:
  1. Analyze the origin, development, and role of political parties, noting those occasional periods in which there was only one major party or were more than two major parties.
  2. Discuss the history of the nomination process for presidential candidates and the increasing importance of primaries in general elections.
  3. Evaluate the roles of polls, campaign advertising, and the controversies over campaign funding.
  4. Describe the means that citizens use to participate in the political process (e.g., voting, campaigning, lobbying, filing a legal challenge, demonstrating, petitioning, picketing, running for political office).
  5. Discuss the features of direct democracy in numerous states (e.g., the process of referendums, recall elections).
  6. Analyze trends in voter turnout; the causes and effects of reapportionment and redistricting, with special attention to spatial districting and the rights of minorities; and the function of the electoral college.
12.7. Broad Concept: Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the influence of the media on American political life. Students:
  1. Discuss the meaning and importance of a free and responsible press.
  2. Describe the roles of broadcast, print, and electronic media, including the Internet, as means of communication in American politics.
  3. Explain how public officials use the media to communicate with the citizenry and to shape public opinion.
12.8. Broad Concept: Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured. Students:
  1. Discuss the meaning and importance of each of the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and how each is secured (e.g., freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition, privacy).
  2. Explain how economic rights are secured and their importance to the individual and to society (e.g.,the right to acquire, use, transfer, and dispose of property; right to choose one's work; right to join ornot join labor unions; copyright and patent).
  3. Discuss the individual's legal obligations to obey the law, serve as a juror, and pay taxes.
  4. Understand the obligations of civic-mindedness, including voting, being informed on civic issues, volunteering and performing public service, and serving in the military or alternative service.
  5. Describe the reciprocity between rights and obligations, that is, why enjoyment of one's rights entailsrespect for the rights of others.
  6. Explain how one becomes a citizen of the United States, including the process of naturalization (e.g.,literacy, language, and other requirements).