eLECTIONS Your Adventure in Politics brought to you by Cable in the Classroom   
A Broadband Learning Experience from
Cable in the Classroom


eLECTIONS State Standards - Washington


WASHINGTON STATE SEA HOMEPAGE

WASHINGTON STATE LEARNING GOALS ALL

WASHINGTON STATE LEARNING GOALS SOCIAL STUDIES/CIVICS


Essential Academic Learning Requirements

CIVICS
  1. The student understands and can explain the core values and democratic principles of the United States as set forth in foundational documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
    To meet this standard, the student will:
    • 1.1 Understand and interpret the major ideas set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other foundational documents
    • 1.2 Examine key ideals of United States democracy such as individual human dignity, liberty, justice, equality, and the rule of law
    • 1.3 Examine representative government and citizen participation
  2. The student analyzes the purposes and organization of government and laws.
    To meet this standard, the student will:
    • 2.1 Understand and explain the organization of government at the federal, state, and local level including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
    • 2.2 Understand the function and effect of law
    • 2.3 Compare and contrast democracies with other forms of government
  3. The student understands the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and the principles of democratic civic involvement.
    To meet this standard, the student will:
    • 3.1 Understand individual rights and their accompanying responsibilities including problem-solving and decision-making at the local, state, national, and international level
    • 3.2 Identify and demonstrate rights of United States citizenship related to school, local, state, national, and international issues
    • 3.3 Explain how various stakeholders influence public policy
Civics Essential Academic Learning Requirements
  1. The student understands and can explain the core values and democratic principles of the United States as set forth in foundational documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
    To meet this standard, the student will:

    BENCHMARK 2 - GRADE 8

    1.1 Understand and interpret the major ideas set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other foundational documents
    • 1.1.2a Describe the origins and creation of foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
    • 1.1.2b Explain specific rights guaranteed by the Constitution and how these rights are related to responsibilities
    1.2 Examine key ideals of United States democracy
    • 1.2.2a Explain key democratic ideals of the U.S. government and discuss their application in specific situations
    • 1.2.2b Describe efforts to reduce differences between democratic ideals and realities
    1.3 Examine representative government and citizen participation
    • 1.3.2a Explain how U.S. citizens govern through representative government and empower representatives to make, interpret, and enforce laws to carry out public policy
    • 1.3.2b Explain how the U.S. government includes concepts of both a democracy and a republic

    BENCHMARK 3 - HIGH SCHOOL

    1.1 Understand and interpret the major ideas set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other foundational documents
    • 1.1.3a Explain key concepts found within foundational documents and evaluate their impact on the contemporary U.S. political system
    • 1.1.3b Analyze how specific rights guaranteed by the Constitution can be modified as the Constitution remains open to change and interpretation
    1.2 Examine key ideals of United States democracy
    • 1.2.3a Examine the origins and continuing influence of key democratic ideals of the U.S. government
    • 1.2.3b Analyze why democratic ideals demand that people work together to reduce the disparity between those ideals and realities
    1.3 Examine representative government and citizen participation
    • 1.3.3a Examine and evaluate how citizens use and influence governmental institutions and processes to solve problems
    • 1.3.3b Analyze the differences between democracy and a republic in relation to the U.S. form of government

  2. The student analyzes the purposes and organization of governments and laws

    BENCHMARK 2 - GRADE 8

    2.1 Understand and explain the organization of federal, state, and local government including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches at, and among, the three levels of government.
    • 2.1.2a Describe how the state and federal government derives its power from the consent of the governed through voting, constituent meetings
    • 2.1.2b Describe the structure of state and federal government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; federal, state, and local levels; and political parties
    2.2 Understand the function and effect of law
    • 2.2.2 Distinguish among making, enforcing, and interpreting laws
    2.3 Compare and contrast democracies with other forms of government
    • 2.3.2a Describe the purposes of government and how its powers are acquired, used, and justified
    • 2.3.2b Describe a variety of forms of government
    • 2.3.2c Explain how various forms of government have different effects on the lives of people

    BENCHMARK 3 - HIGH SCHOOL

    2.1 Understand and explain the organization of federal, state, and local government including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches at, and among, the three levels of government.
    • 2.1.3a Examine and explain constitutional principles that establish and limit government
    • 2.1.3b Analyze problems and solutions related to the distribution of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
    2.2 Understand the function and effect of law
    • 2.2.3 Explain how the Constitution is maintained as the supreme law of the land and how it is changed or amended
    2.3 Compare and contrast democracies with other forms of government
    • 2.3.3a Explain the purposes of government and analyze how its powers are acquired, used, justified, and balanced
    • 2.3.3b Compare and contrast U.S. democracy and other forms of government
    • 2.3.3c Analyze and explain how citizens can influence governments through voting, lobbying, protesting, revolution

  3. The student understands the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and the principles of democratic civic involvement.

    BENCHMARK 2 - GRADE 8

    4.1 Understand individual rights and their accompanying responsibilities at the local, state, national, and international level
    • 4.1.2a Explain how responsibility to the common good might conflict with the exercise of individual rights
    • 4.1.2b Examine why democracy requires government to protect the rights of citizens and to promote the common good
    4.2 Identify and demonstrate rights of United States citizenship related to local, state, national, and international issues
    • 4.2.2a Participate in civic discussions with the aim of solving current problems (e.g., curfew, timber policies, or foreign aid policies)
    • 4.2.2b Discuss how voting in a representative democracy is a privilege and a responsibility
    4.3 Explain how various stakeholders influence public policy
    • 4.3.2a Analyze the influence of various interest groups and individuals on the development of public policy and decision-making
    • 4.3.2b Describe the relationship between civic responsibility and public service

    BENCHMARK 3 - HIGH SCHOOL

    4.1 Understand individual rights and their accompanying responsibilities at the local, state, national, and international level
    • 4.1.3a Analyze how individual rights can be balanced with the common good
    • 4.1.3b Analyze why democracy requires citizens to deliberate on public problems and participate in collective decision making
    4.2 Identify and demonstrate rights of United States citizenship related to local, state, national, and international issues
    • 4.2.3a Engage in oral and written civic discourse to analyze pressing controversial issues and evaluate competing solutions
    • 4.2.3b Evaluate campaign and voting materials and activities and explain the importance of responsible voting
    4.3 Explain how various stakeholders influence public policy
    • 4.3.3a Evaluate how corporations, government agencies, organizations, and public opinion influence the development of public policy
    • 4.3.3b Investigate possible careers in the field of public service