1.1.1 Identify roles citizens play in civic and private life, with emphasis on leadership.

1.1.2 Explain and provide examples of the concepts "power," "legitimacy," "authority," and "sovereignty."

1.1.3 Identify and explain competing arguments about the necessity and purposes of government (such as to protect inalienable rights, promote the general welfare, resolve conflicts, promote equality, and establish justice for all). (See USHG F1.1; F1.2; 8.3.2)

1.1.4 Explain the purposes of politics, why people engage in the political process, and what the political process can achieve (e.g., promote the greater good, promote self-interest, advance solutions to public issues and problems, achieve a just society). (See USHG F1.1; F1.2; 6.3.2; 8.3.1)

3.1.1 Analyze the purposes, organization, functions, and processes of the legislative branch as enumerated in Article I of the Constitution.

3.1.2 Analyze the purposes, organization, functions, and processes of the executive branch as enumerated in Article II of the Constitution.

3.1.3 Analyze the purposes, organization, functions, and processes of the judicial branch as enumerated in Article III of the Constitution.

3.1.4 Identify the role of independent regulatory agencies in the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Federal Reserve Board, Food and Drug Administration, Federal Communications Commission). (See USHG 6.3.2)

3.1.5 Use case studies or examples to examine tensions between the three branches of government(e.g., powers of the purse and impeachment, advise and consent, veto power, and judicial review).

3.1.6 Evaluate major sources of revenue for the national government, including the constitutional provisions for taxing its citizens.

3.1.7 Explain why the federal government is one of enumerated powers while state governments are those of reserved powers.

3.5.1 Explain how political parties, interest groups, the media, and individuals can influence and determine the public agenda.

3.5.2 Describe the origin and the evolution of political parties and their influence. (See Grade 5 SS; USHG 9.1.2)

3.5.3 Identify and explain the roles of various associations and groups in American politics (e.g., political organizations, political action committees, interest groups, voluntary and civic associations, professional organizations, unions, and religious groups).

3.5.4 Explain the concept of public opinion, factors that shape it, and contrasting views on the role it should play in public policy.

3.5.5 Evaluate the actual influence of public opinion on public policy.
3.5.6 Explain the significance of campaigns and elections in American politics, current criticisms of campaigns, and proposals for their reform.

3.5.7 Explain the role of television, radio, the press, and the internet in political communication.
3.5.8 Evaluate, take, and defend positions about the formation and implementation of a current public policy issue, and examine ways to participate in the decision making process about the issue.

3.5.9 In making a decision on a public issue, analyze various forms of political communication (e.g., political cartoons, campaign advertisements, political speeches, and blogs) using criteria like logical validity, factual accuracy and/or omission, emotional appeal, distorted evidence, and appeals to bias or prejudice.

5.3.1 Identify and explain personal rights (e.g., freedom of thought, conscience, expression, association, movement and residence, the right to privacy, personal autonomy, due process of law, free exercise of religion, and equal protection of the law).

5.3.2 Identify and explain political rights (e.g., freedom of speech, press, assembly, and petition; and the right to vote and run for public office).

5.3.3 Identify and explain economic rights (e.g., the right to acquire, use, transfer, and dispose of property, choose one's work and change employment, join labor unions and professional associations, establish and operate a business, copyright protection, enter into lawful contracts, and just compensation for the taking of private property for public use).

5.3.4 Describe the relationship between personal, political, and economic rights and how they can sometimes conflict.

5.3.5 Explain considerations and criteria commonly used in determining what limits should be placed on specific rights.

5.3.6 Describe the rights protected by the First Amendment, and using case studies and examples, explore the limit and scope of First Amendment rights.

5.3.7 Using the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Amendments, describe the rights of the accused; and using case studies and examples, explore the limit and scope of these rights.

5.3.8 Explain and give examples of the role of the Fourteenth Amendment in extending the protection of individual rights against state action.

5.3.9 Use examples to explain why rights are not unlimited and absolute.

5.4.1 Distinguish between personal and civic responsibilities and describe how they can sometimes conflict with each other.

5.4.2 Describe the importance of citizens' civic responsibilities including obeying the law, being informed and attentive to public issues, monitoring political leaders and governmental agencies, assuming leadership when appropriate, paying taxes, registering to vote and voting knowledgeably on candidates and issues, serving as a juror, serving in the armed forces, performing public service.

5.4.3 Explain why meeting personal and civic responsibilities is important to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy.

5.5.1 Describe dispositions people think lead citizens to become independent members of society (e.g., self-discipline, self-governance, and a sense of individual responsibility) and thought to foster respect for individual worth and human dignity (e.g., respect for individual rights and choice, and concern for the well-being of others).

5.5.2 Describe the dispositions thought to encourage citizen involvement in public affairs

(e.g., "civic virtue" or attentiveness to and concern for public affairs; patriotism or loyalty to values and principles underlying American constitutional democracy) and to facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in public affairs (e.g., civility, respect for the rights of other individuals, respect for law, honesty, open-mindedness, negotiation and compromise; persistence, civic mindedness, compassion, patriotism, courage, and tolerance for ambiguity).

5.5.3 Explain why the development of citizens as independent members of society who are respectful of individual worth and human dignity, inclined to participate in public affairs, and are thoughtful and effective in their participation, is important to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy.

6.1.1 Identify and research various viewpoints on significant public policy issues.

6.1.2 Locate, analyze, and use various forms of evidence, information, and sources about a significant public policy issue, including primary and secondary sources, legal documents (e.g., Constitutions, court decisions, state law), non-text based information (e.g., maps, charts, tables, graphs, and cartoons), and other forms of political communication (e.g., oral political cartoons, campaign advertisements, political speeches, and blogs).

6.1.3 Develop and use criteria (e.g., logical validity, factual accuracy and/or omission, emotional appeal, credibility, unstated assumptions, logical fallacies, inconsistencies, distortions, and appeals to bias or prejudice, overall strength of argument) in analyzing evidence and position statements.

6.1.4 Address a public issue by suggesting alternative solutions or courses of action, evaluating the consequences of each, and proposing an action to address the issue or resolve the problem.

6.1.5 Make a persuasive, reasoned argument on a public issue and support using evidence

(e.g., historical and contemporary examples), constitutional principles, and fundamental values of American constitutional democracy; explain the stance or position.

6.2.1 Describe the relationship between politics and the attainment of individual and public goals (e.g., how individual interests are fulfilled by working to achieve collective goals).

6.2.2 Distinguish between and evaluate the importance of political participation and social participation.

6.2.3 Describe how, when, and where individuals can participate in the political process at the local, state, and national levels (including, but not limited to voting, attending political and governmental meetings, contacting public officials, working in campaigns, community organizing, demonstrating or picketing, boycotting, joining interest groups or political action committees); evaluate the effectiveness of these methods of participants.

6.2.4 Participate in a real or simulated election, and evaluate the results, including the impact of voter turnout and demographics.

6.2.5 Describe how citizen movements seek to realize fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy.
6.2.6 Analyze different ways people have used civil disobedience, the different forms civil disobedience might take (e.g., violent and non-violent) and their impact.

6.2.7 Participate in a service-learning project, reflect upon experiences, and evaluate the value of the experience to the American ideal of participation.

6.2.8 Describe various forms and functions of political leadership and evaluate the characteristics of an effective leader.
6.2.9 Evaluate the claim that constitutional democracy requires the participation of an attentive, knowledgeable, and competent citizenry.

6.2.10 Participate in a real or simulated public hearing or debate and evaluate the role of deliberative public discussions in civic life.