Standards

Enduring Understandings

• The structure and function of local, state and national governments impact policy making.

• Political ideologies influence governmental policies and decisions.

• Foreign policy influences political relationships among nations.

• Citizen of the United States are either native born or naturalized.

• Civic participation involves roles, rights, and responsibilities.

• Citizen participation influences the making of public policy.

Essential Questions

• What is the role of the legislative branch?

• How does the legislative branch interact with other branches of government?

• What are the powers of the legislative branch?

• How does a bill become a law?

• What is the role of the executive branch?

• How are presidents elected?

• What are the powers of the president?

• How does the executive branch interact with other branches of government?

• What is the role of the judicial branch?

• How does the legislative branch interact with other branches of government?

• How has the Supreme Court influenced public policy?

• Where do different political ideologies belong on the political spectrum?

• What are the beliefs associated with each?

• How do the two major political parties differ?

• What is foreign policy?

• Why does the United States have foreign policy?

• Which foreign policy goal has the greatest impact on how the United States interacts politically with other nations?

• Which diplomatic strategy—used by the United States to develop and implement foreign policy –has been most effective? Why?

• Which governmental official has the greatest responsibility for foreign policy?

• What is citizenship?

• How does one become a citizen?

• What are the duties and responsibilities of a citizen?

• Which strategies can citizens use most effectively to influence public policy?

Standards and Benchmarks

Civics  2: Students know the structure and function of local, state and national government and how citizen involvement shapes public policy.
Benchmark 2A:  Students know the organization and functions of local, state and national governments.
Benchmark 2B:  Students know how power, authority, and responsibility are distributed, shared, and limited through federalism as established by the US Constitution.
Benchmark 2C:  Students know and understand the place of law in the Colorado and US Constitutional systems.
Benchmark 2D:  Students know how public policy is developed at the local, state, and national levels.
Civics 3:  Students know the political relationship of the US and its citizens to other nations and to world affairs.
Benchmark 3A:  Students know how and why governments and nongovernmental agencies around the world interact politically. 
Benchmark 3B:  Students understand how the US government develops foreign policy.
Benchmark 3C:  Students understand the domestic and foreign policy influence the US has on other nations and how the actions of other influence politics and society of the US.
Civics 4:  Students understand how citizens exercise the roles, rights, and responsibilities of participation in civic life at all levels.
Benchmark 4A:  Students know what citizenship is.
Benchmark 4B:  Students know how citizens can fulfill their responsibilities for preserving the constitutional republic.
Benchmark 4C:  Students know how citizens can exercise their rights.
Benchmark  4D: Students know how citizens can participate in civic life.

Unit 3:  The Structure and Functions of Government
Unit 4:  Foreign Policy
Unit 5:  Citizenship Participation

Integrated Reading and Writing

Parent Resources

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