Pennsylvania

5.1 Principles and Documents of Government

• Rule of Law

  • 5.1.C.A Analyze the sources, purposes, functions of law, and how the rule of law protects individual rights and promotes the common good.

    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)
    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)
    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)

• Laws and Government

  • 5.1.C.B Employ historical examples and political philosophy to evaluate the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.

    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)
    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)
    • The Articles of Confederation (CG-B.3)
    • The Constitutional Convention (CG-B.4)
    • Source analysis: the Federalist Papers (CG-B.5)

• Principles and Ideals that Shape Government

  • 5.1.C.C Evaluate the application of the principles and ideals in contemporary civic life (Liberty/Freedom, Democracy, Justice, Equality).

    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)

• Documents and Ideals that Shape Pennsylvania and US Government

  • 5.1.C.D Evaluate state and federal powers based on significant documents and other critical sources (Declaration of Independence, United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Pennsylvania Constitution).

    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)
    • The Articles of Confederation (CG-B.3)
    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)
    • Federalism (CG-C.2)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • Supreme Court cases on the balance of power (CG-D.7)
    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Identify levels and branches of government (CG-E.2)
    • State courts (CG-E.3)

• Individual Rights

  • 5.1.C.E Analyze and assess the rights of people as written in the PA Constitution and the US Constitution.

    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)

• Symbols

  • 5.1.C.F Analyze the role political symbols play in civil disobedience and patriotic activities.

5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

• Civics Rights and Responsibilities

  • 5.2.C.A Contrast the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democracy with a citizen in an authoritarian system.

    • Authoritarian and democratic governments (CG-A.1)
    • Identify types of government (CG-A.2)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)

• Conflict and Resolution

  • 5.2.C.B Analyze strategies used to resolve conflicts in society and government.

    • The Constitutional Convention (CG-B.4)
    • Source analysis: the Federalist Papers (CG-B.5)
    • Supreme Court cases on the balance of power (CG-D.7)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Fourteenth Amendment: incorporation (CG-F.3)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • The two-party system (CG-H.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

• Leadership and Public Service

  • 5.2.C.C Evaluate political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.

    • Identify types of government (CG-A.2)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

• Competent and Responsible Citizens

  • 5.2.C.D Evaluate and demonstrate what makes competent and responsible citizens.

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

5.3 How Government Works

• Branches of Government

  • 5.3.C.A Examine the process of checks and balances among the three branches of government, including the creation of law.

    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • How a bill becomes a law (CG-D.2)
    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)
    • Executive departments and independent agencies (CG-D.4)
    • The judicial branch (CG-D.5)
    • Checks and balances (CG-D.6)
    • Supreme Court cases on the balance of power (CG-D.7)

• Structure, Organization, and Operation of Governments

  • 5.3.C.B Analyze the roles of local, state, and national governments in policy-making.

    • Federalism (CG-C.2)
    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Identify levels and branches of government (CG-E.2)
    • State courts (CG-E.3)

• Government Services

  • 5.3.C.C Explain how government agencies create, amend, and enforce policies in local, state, and national governments.

    • Federalism (CG-C.2)
    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)
    • The judicial branch (CG-D.5)
    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Identify levels and branches of government (CG-E.2)
    • State courts (CG-E.3)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

• Leadership and Political Elections

  • 5.3.C.D Evaluate the roles of political parties, interest groups, and mass media in politics and public policy.

    • The two-party system (CG-H.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)
    • Role of the media (CG-I.1)

• Elements of the Election Process

  • 5.3.C.E Compare and contrast the different election processes for local, state, and national offices.

    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)

• Conflict and the Court System

  • 5.3.C.F Explain the Supreme Court's role in interpreting the U.S. Constitution (Individual rights, States' rights, Civil rights).

    • Interpreting the Constitution (CG-C.5)
    • Supreme Court cases on the balance of power (CG-D.7)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)

• Interest Groups

  • 5.3.C.G Analyze the influence of interest groups in the political process.

• Media Influences

  • 5.3.C.H Evaluate the role of mass media in setting public agenda and influencing political life.

    • Role of the media (CG-I.1)

• Taxes

  • 5.3.C.I Explain various types of taxes and their purposes.

    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

5.4 How International Relationships Function

• Countries and Conflicts

  • 5.4.C.A Explain how United States foreign policy is developed.

    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)
    • Executive departments and independent agencies (CG-D.4)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)

• Tools of Foreign Policy

  • 5.4.C.B Explain why and how different foreign policy tools are used to advance a nation's self interest (e.g., diplomacy, economic aid, military aid, sanctions, treaties).

    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)