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.

• How one becomes a citizen of the United States.

• 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

Standard Civics  2: Students know the structure and function of local, state and national government and how citizen involvement shapes public policy.

Benchmark A:  Students know the organization and functions of local, state and national governments.  

Benchmark B:  Students know how power, authority, and responsibility are distributed, shared, and limited through federalism as established by the US Constitution.

Benchmark C:  Students know and understand the place of law in the Colorado and US Constitutional systems.

Benchmark D:  Students know how public policy is developed at the local, state, and national levels.

Standard Civics 3:  Students know the political relationship of the US and its citizens to other nations and to world affairs.

Benchmark A:  Students know how and why governments and nongovernmental agencies around the world interact politically. 

Benchmark B:  Students understand how the US government develops foreign policy.

Benchmark C:  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.

Standard Civics 4:  Students understand how citizens exercise the roles, rights, and responsibilities of participation in civic life at all levels.

Benchmark A:  Students know what citizenship is.

Benchmark B:  Students know how citizens can fulfill their responsibilities for preserving the constitutional republic.

Benchmark C:  Students know how citizens can exercise their rights.

Benchmark  D: Students know how citizens can participate in civic life.

• Unit 1  
• Unit 2 
• Unit 3 
• Unit 4 
• Unit 5 
• Unit 6 
• Unit 7 
• Unit 8 

Integrated Reading and Writing

Parent Resources