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Skills available for Rhode Island eighth-grade social studies standards

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Rhode Island Social Studies Standards (adopted in 2023) Rhode Island Social Studies Standards (adopted in 2023)
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1 The Philosophical Foundations of the United States Political System

SS8.1.1 Natural rights
- SS8.1.1 Analyze the idea of natural rights and its roots to ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Enlightenment thinkers, and Indigenous peoples.
  - SS8.1.1.a Explain the difference between natural rights v. legal rights.
    - The Enlightenment: origins and natural rights (8-I.5)
  - SS8.1.1.b Explain the relationship between parts of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the United States, and natural rights.
  - SS8.1.1.c Analyze the similarities and differences among Athenian's, Roman's, and members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's views of the rights of individuals.
  - SS8.1.1.d Analyze enlightenment thinker views on equality, enslavement, women's rights, education, habeas corpus, and protection from government.
    - The Enlightenment: origins and natural rights (8-I.5)
    - The Enlightenment: influences on government (8-I.6)
  - SS8.1.1.e Analyze the efficacy of varying perspectives from figures during this period (e.g., John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, James Otis, Phillis Wheatley, Mary Wollstonecraft).
    - The Enlightenment: origins and natural rights (8-I.5)
    - The Enlightenment: influences on government (8-I.6)
  - SS8.1.1.f Analyze discussions of natural rights today.
SS8.1.2 Civic participation
- SS8.1.2 Argue what it meant to be civically engaged in the past and identify ways to participate today.
  - SS8.1.2.a Analyze the similarities and differences among Athenian's, Roman's, members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's, and British citizen's views on civic participation, civic duty/common good, citizenship and a citizen's responsibilities, and government organization, and argue the impacts on their societies.
  - SS8.1.2.b Analyze American founding documents' treatment of a citizen's responsibilities, who had access to citizenship, and who was denied access to civic participation.
  - SS8.1.2.c Explain ways students can participate in their communities today, analyze ways that young people have made contemporary contributions, and argue their impacts.
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)
SS8.1.3 Constructing a rule of law
- SS8.1.3 Argue the impact of influences from ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, 18th century Britain, and Indigenous communities in constructing laws.
  - SS8.1.3.a Explain different types of governments (e.g., democracy, oligarchy, monarchy).
  - SS8.1.3.b Explain the purpose of government and the concepts of rule of law as defined by other governments (e.g., Ancient Athens, Roman Republic, 18th century Britain, Indigenous communities).
  - SS8.1.3.c Analyze ways other forms of representative governments influenced the American system (e.g., Ancient Athens, Roman Republic, 18th century Britain, Indigenous governments).
  - SS8.1.3.d Identify important documents and perspectives during this period including but not limited to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Constitution of the United States, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, and argue the ways they influenced the construction of a rule of law in United States government.
  - SS8.1.3.e Argue the necessity of separation of powers in the American political system.

2 The Development of the United States Government

SS8.2.1 The Declaration of Independence
- SS8.2.1 Argue whether the United States has lived up to the ideals written in the Declaration of Independence by considering the authors, signers, and their ideals.
  - SS8.2.1.a Analyze the definition of liberty according to the Declaration of Independence.
    - Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (8-L.10)
  - SS8.2.1.b Analyze the grievances and ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence.
    - Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (8-L.10)
  - SS8.2.1.c Analyze the backgrounds (race, gender, occupation, religion, age, location, and view of slavery) of the Declaration of Independence signatories, and argue the effect that their perspectives had on their political views.
  - SS8.2.1.d Analyze events that were immediate influenced by the Declaration of Independence (e.g., French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, Grievance 27, continuation of slavery).
  - SS8.2.1.e Analyze the ways that the United States has lived up to and fallen short of the ideals in the Declaration of Independence, and argue ways that individuals were left out of the ideas of liberty.
    - Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (8-L.10)
  - SS8.2.1.f Identify ways that students see the ideals of the Declaration of Independence represented in their lives.
SS8.2.2 The Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights
- SS8.2.2 Analyze the events of the Constitutional Convention and the issues raised during the debates.
  - SS8.2.2.a Analyze the conflicts that lead to compromises during the 1787 Constitutional Convention (e.g., The Virginia Plan, The New Jersey Plan, the Connecticut Compromise, Shays' Rebellion, Northwest Ordinance 1787, The Great Compromise, Rhode Island's initial resistance to ratifying the Constitution of the United States) and argue the impact of those compromises.
    - The Constitutional Convention (8-M.2)
  - SS8.2.2.b Analyze the views of the leaders of the Constitutional Convention on critical issues (e.g., slavery, rights of individuals, distribution of political power, representation, rights of states) and how these issues were resolved in the proposed Constitution.
  - SS8.2.2.c Analyze the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist responses and what they tell us about the new Constitution (e.g., federalism, factions, checks and balances, independent judiciary, republicanism, limited government) (Suggested Federalist Papers – 9, 10, 39, 51, 70, 78, 84).
  - SS8.2.2.d Explain the amendments in the Bill of Rights, and analyze why they were added to the Constitution.
    - The Bill of Rights (8-B.4)
  - SS8.2.2.e Argue the current challenges to and uses of the Bill of Rights (e.g., gun ownership, right to protest, right to online privacy, prayer in schools).

3 The Institutions of the United States Government

SS8.3.1 The legislative branch
- SS8.3.1 Argue the impact of Article I of the Constitution of the United States and the work of Congress with a focus on the critical issues that Congress is debating today.
  - SS8.3.1.a Analyze the relationship between enumerated and implied powers.
  - SS8.3.1.b Explain the structural components of Congress and its two houses (e.g., mechanics, specific powers, eligibility, and length of terms of members, how laws are passed).
    - The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
  - SS8.3.1.c Explain the process for electing members to Congress.
    - The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
  - SS8.3.1.d Identify current legislative leaders for Rhode Island and analyze their positions/platforms.
  - SS8.3.1.e Argue the importance and impact of recent issues brought before Congress (e.g., gun ownership, abortion, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigration).
  - SS8.3.1.f Explain the role of political parties and how they influence Congressional legislation.
  - SS8.3.1.g Explain the relationships between legislators and professional lobbyists, and analyze the positive and negative effects that lobbying has on the legislative process (e.g., corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations, private citizens).
  - SS8.3.1.h Analyze ways that individual citizens can participate in the legislative process.
SS8.3.2 The executive branch
- SS8.3.2 Argue the impact of Article II of the Constitution of the United States and how the power of the presidency has changed over time.
  - SS8.3.2.a Explain the structure of the executive branch (e.g., cabinet, departments).
    - The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
  - SS8.3.2.b Explain the structure of the presidency (e.g., how elected, requirements for office, specific powers, removal process).
    - The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
  - SS8.3.2.c Argue how the scope and limits of the presidency (both foreign and domestic) has changed over time.
    - The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
  - SS8.3.2.e Analyze the role of the electoral college in presidential elections, and argue its impact in recent elections.
    - The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
  - SS8.3.2.f Explain the role and responsibilities of the Vice President.
    - The Executive Branch (8-A.3)
SS8.3.3 The judicial branch
- SS8.3.3 Argue the importance of the role of the Supreme Court and its influence on issues of today.
  - SS8.3.3.a Explain the structure of the judiciary (e.g., eligibility, length of service, selection, and confirmation process).
    - The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)
  - SS8.3.3.b Analyze the scope of the Supreme Court and important rulings, past and present.
  - SS8.3.3.c Analyze how the Supreme Court has interpreted the Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments over time (e.g., due process of law, free speech, equal protection, protection against unreasonable search and seizure), and argue how their decisions impact society.
  - SS8.3.3.d Analyze current cases before the Supreme Court, and argue how their decisions could affect students.
SS8.3.4 Checks and balances
- SS8.3.4 Analyze the ways the branches of government provide checks on one another to limit the abuse of power.
  - SS8.3.4.a Explain how the three branches of government provide checks on one another, and analyze how effective those checks are.
    - Checks and balances (8-A.5)
  - SS8.3.4.b Explain the Constitution's dual purpose – to enumerate power and to limit the abuse of power.
    - The Constitution: structure and principles (8-B.1)

4 The Structure of Rhode Island State, Local, and Tribal Governments

SS8.4.1 Local governments
- SS8.4.1 Argue the current and historic impacts of the city or town government(s) local to students.
  - SS8.4.1.a Explain the function, funding, leadership, and administration of local city or town government.
    - State and local government (8-A.6)
  - SS8.4.1.b Analyze the treatment of different groups of people in the local city or town (e.g., the unhoused, senior citizens, unemployed) and the related resources offered, and argue how treatment and resources have impacted those groups.
  - SS8.4.1.c Analyze important local issues (e.g., public schools, public services, housing, land use, business regulation) and governmental response, and argue how local responses have impacted these issues.
  - SS8.4.1.d Explain ways people can create change in their local government (e.g., vote, petition, voice opinions at a hearing).
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)
SS8.4.2 Rhode Island state government
- SS8.4.2 Argue the current and historic impact of the Rhode Island state government.
  - SS8.4.2.a Explain the history of the Rhode Island Constitution (e.g., drafting, signing, amendments), and analyze the influence of the earlier Charter on the creation of the state constitution.
  - SS8.4.2.b Explain the structure, organization, function, and responsibilities of Rhode Island's General Assembly.
  - SS8.4.2.c Explain the structure, organization, function, and responsibilities of Rhode Island's executive branch.
  - SS8.4.2.d Explain the structure, organization, function, and responsibilities of Rhode Island's judiciary.
  - SS8.4.2.e Explain how state government is funded.
    - State and local government (8-A.6)
  - SS8.4.2.f Analyze important state issues (e.g., infrastructure, education, regulation of business, civil and criminal laws, land use) and governmental response, and argue how responses have impacted the issues.
  - SS8.4.2.g Explain ways people can create change through Rhode Island government (e.g., vote, petition, protest, write a letter to a representative) and how the state Constitution can be amended.
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)
SS8.4.3 Tribal governments
- SS8.4.3 Argue the impact of the systems, practices, and values of tribal governments.
  - SS8.4.3.a Analyze the elements of sovereignty and how federal and state recognition of tribes is handled, and argue the impacts to Indigenous groups that are and are not state or federally recognized.
  - SS8.4.3.b Analyze the diversity of tribal governments located in North America.
  - SS8.4.3.c Analyze the tribal governments local to Rhode Island including their cultural practices, values, and experiences with colonization (e.g., Narragansett in RI, Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan in CT, and Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head and Mashpee Wampanoag in MA).
  - SS8.4.3.d Analyze the systems, laws, and policies of tribal governments in and local to Rhode Island (e.g., constitutions, infrastructure, leadership, constituent's rights and responsibilities, land use, economies), and argue the impacts on their constituents.
SS8.4.4 Government jurisdiction
- SS8.4.4 Analyze what happens when jurisdictions overlap with opposing views and goals.
  - SS8.4.4.a Analyze the similarities and differences among reserved, expressed, implied, and concurrent powers.
  - SS8.4.4.b Analyze the relationships between different levels of government and their powers, and argue the impacts and who benefits.
    - Identify levels and branches of government (8-A.7)
  - SS8.4.4.c Analyze the relationships between the Narragansett tribal, local, and state governments and their powers, and argue the impacts of those relationships.
  - SS8.4.4.d Analyze the process and goals for addressing issues with overlapping jurisdiction (e.g., health care, transportation, education, housing) including between local governments, Rhode Island state government, and tribal governments.
  - SS8.4.4.e Analyze the development and implementation of public policy at each level of government.

5 The Constitution, Amendments, and Supreme Court decisions

SS8.5.1 Constitutional amendments, congressional bills, and executive orders
- SS8.5.1 Argue the historical significance of Federal laws enacted by Congress and the Executive branch to protect, expand, or limit individual rights.
  - SS8.5.1.a Identify how congressional laws are passed.
    - The Legislative Branch (8-A.2)
  - SS8.5.1.b Analyze the purpose, procedure, and limits of executive orders.
  - SS8.5.1.c Analyze significant changes to the Constitution (e.g., 14th Amendment, 19th Amendment, 26th Amendment), and argue the impacts of those changes.
    - The Constitution: amendments (8-B.2)
  - SS8.5.1.d Analyze the laws or executive orders expanding civil rights and equal protection for race, religion, gender, sexuality, and disability that demonstrate the evolving protections to civil rights (e.g., 1964 Civil Rights Act, 1965 Voting Rights Act, 1972 Title IX, 1972 Equal Employment Act, 1990 American with Disabilities Act, 2014 Executive Order 13672, 2022 Executive Order 14076), and argue their impacts.
  - SS8.5.1.e Analyze laws or executive orders that challenged civil rights by limiting individual rights (e.g., 1942 Executive order 9066, 1953 Executive order 10450), and argue their impacts.
  - SS8.5.1.f Analyze the implications of the "necessary and proper" clause to the Constitution.
SS8.5.2 Judicial review
- SS8.5.2 Analyze court decisions and interpretations that affected freedoms and citizen rights.
  - SS8.5.2.a Explain the process of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison – how cases come before the Supreme Court, how they are argued, how the Court issues decisions and dissents.
    - The Judicial Branch (8-A.4)
  - SS8.5.2.b Analyze the effects of major court interpretations addressing freedom of religion, assembly, press, petition, and speech under the first Amendment; the due process clause and the equal protection clause of the fourteenth Amendment; and cases where individual rights conflicted with community or national beliefs.
    - The Constitution: amendments (8-B.2)
  - SS8.5.2.c Analyze the impact of the doctrine of incorporation on states.

6 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens

SS8.6.1 Rights of a citizen
- SS8.6.1 Argue the importance of the rights citizens hold in a democracy and what it means to protect those rights.
  - SS8.6.1.a Explain the differences between the term "citizen" as it pertains to being an active and responsible participant in society as opposed to being a legal citizen as an individual with full rights under a particular system of government.
    - Citizenship and the naturalization process (8-D.1)
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)
  - SS8.6.1.b Explain the process for individuals to become legal citizens, and analyze how that is applied differently to groups.
    - Citizenship and the naturalization process (8-D.1)
    - The U.S. naturalization test (8-D.3)
  - SS8.6.1.c Explain the history of when groups or individuals legally became citizens.
  - SS8.6.1.d Analyze ways that individuals live in the United States as participatory citizens but not as legal citizens.
  - SS8.6.1.e Analyze the difference between rights protected by the Constitution of the United States and other laws for all individuals living in the United States despite legal status (e.g., equity, tolerance, due process, freedom of speech, religion, and privacy) and those rights that apply only to legal citizens (e.g., voting, running for and holding elected office), and argue the impacts across different populations.
  - SS8.6.1.f Analyze the freedoms for all individuals existing in civic, political, and private life despite legal citizenship (e.g., labor rights, children's rights, cultural freedoms, religious freedoms, rights to subsistence, education, health care), and argue the impacts across different populations.
  - SS8.6.1.g Argue ways that government actions help and hinder individual group's rights.
SS8.6.2 Responsibilities of a citizen
- SS8.6.2 Analyze the importance of the responsibilities and obligations of a citizen and how people can participate in their communities.
  - SS8.6.2.a Analyze the roles and expectations of all individuals in a democracy (e.g., paying taxes, obeying laws, military service, public service, voting, serving on a jury).
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)
  - SS8.6.2.b Explain ways that every individual can actively participate in their local communities.
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)
SS8.6.3 Political participation
- SS8.6.3 Analyze the political process, how elections work, issues surrounding elections, and the ways people can get involved.
  - SS8.6.3.a Explain how to register to vote, find a polling place, and access voter information in Rhode Island.
  - SS8.6.3.b Analyze the election process in Rhode Island, how that process differs in other states, and argue the ways that those different processes affect individuals (e.g., requirements for individuals, procedures, rules, regulations).
  - SS8.6.3.c Explain the role of primaries and the Electoral College.
  - SS8.6.3.d Explain the methods of participation in elections (e.g., running for office, campaigning, lobbying, demonstrating, volunteering at polling places, voting, filing legal challenges).
  - SS8.6.3.e Analyze issues surrounding elections (e.g., redistricting, voter identification laws, campaign financing, campaign ads, voter turnout) and how they reflect voter's positions.
  - SS8.6.3.f Explain career opportunities in public service at local, state, and federal levels.
SS8.6.4 Movements for Civil Rights
- SS8.6.4 Argue the impacts individuals and groups have made towards securing civil rights in the United States.
  - SS8.6.4.a Explain the concept of equal rights.
  - SS8.6.4.b Analyze the strategies and outcomes of the African American, Latinx, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Indigenous, Women, LGBTQIA+, Immigrants, and Disability rights movements (e.g., root inequities, legal challenges, social movements, role of community leaders, efforts of ordinary people, any legal changes as a result of the movements, Rhode Island connections), and argue the impacts of the outcomes to different groups of people.
  - SS8.6.4.c Analyze the cooperation between movements (e.g., school segregation legal challenges, Delano Grape Strike 1965, Section 504 Sit-in 1977), and argue the impacts of working together.
  - SS8.6.4.d Identify civil rights issues that continue to exist today, analyze current debates surrounding these issues, and argue their position on one or more of the issues.
  - SS8.6.4.e Explain ways students can contribute to efforts for equality.
SS8.6.5 Human rights and global citizenship
- SS8.6.5 Argue the impacts individuals and groups have made in securing human rights globally.
  - SS8.6.5.a Explain what human rights are, analyze the elements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and argue their impact globally.
  - SS8.6.5.b Explain how the United Nations and other organizations (e.g., Human Rights Watch, Anti-Slavery International, Save the Children, Amnesty International) secure human rights across the globe, analyze their approaches, and argue their impacts globally.
  - SS8.6.5.c Analyze human rights violations and genocides (e.g., Armenian genocide, Jewish Holocaust, Cambodian genocide, Rwandan genocide, human trafficking, child labor, modern slavery) and the ways nations and organizations intervene.
  - SS8.6.5.d Analyze current global issues (e.g., climate change, disease, food insecurity), explain ways people as global citizens can be involved (e.g., volunteering, advocacy, educating others), and argue the potential impacts.
    - Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (8-D.2)

7 Freedom of the press and news/media literacy

SS8.7.1 Function of media in a democracy
- SS8.7.1 Argue the benefits and challenges of media in a democracy.
  - SS8.7.1.a Explain the idea of freedom of the press, its purpose, and its origins.
    - The Constitution: amendments (8-B.2)
  - SS8.7.1.b Explain the role of the press, and analyze how that role has changed over time, and the responsibilities it has to the public.
  - SS8.7.1.c Analyze the function of news articles, news programs, websites, editorials, cartoons, advertisements, social media posts, and argue the impacts of those venues.
  - SS8.7.1.d Argue the benefits and challenges of digital news and social media.
  - SS8.7.1.e Identify methods for evaluating the credibility of online and print sources.

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1 The Philosophical Foundations of the United States Political System

SS8.1.1 Natural rights

SS8.1.1 Analyze the idea of natural rights and its roots to ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, Enlightenment thinkers, and Indigenous peoples.

SS8.1.1.a Explain the difference between natural rights v. legal rights.

SS8.1.1.b Explain the relationship between parts of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the United States, and natural rights.

SS8.1.1.c Analyze the similarities and differences among Athenian's, Roman's, and members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy's views of the rights of individuals.

SS8.1.1.d Analyze enlightenment thinker views on equality, enslavement, women's rights, education, habeas corpus, and protection from government.

SS8.1.1.e Analyze the efficacy of varying perspectives from figures during this period (e.g., John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, James Otis, Phillis Wheatley, Mary Wollstonecraft).

SS8.1.1.f Analyze discussions of natural rights today.

SS8.1.2 Civic participation

SS8.1.2 Argue what it meant to be civically engaged in the past and identify ways to participate today.

SS8.1.2.b Analyze American founding documents' treatment of a citizen's responsibilities, who had access to citizenship, and who was denied access to civic participation.

SS8.1.2.c Explain ways students can participate in their communities today, analyze ways that young people have made contemporary contributions, and argue their impacts.

SS8.1.3 Constructing a rule of law

SS8.1.3 Argue the impact of influences from ancient Athens, the Roman Republic, 18th century Britain, and Indigenous communities in constructing laws.

SS8.1.3.a Explain different types of governments (e.g., democracy, oligarchy, monarchy).

SS8.1.3.b Explain the purpose of government and the concepts of rule of law as defined by other governments (e.g., Ancient Athens, Roman Republic, 18th century Britain, Indigenous communities).

SS8.1.3.c Analyze ways other forms of representative governments influenced the American system (e.g., Ancient Athens, Roman Republic, 18th century Britain, Indigenous governments).

SS8.1.3.e Argue the necessity of separation of powers in the American political system.

2 The Development of the United States Government

SS8.2.1 The Declaration of Independence

SS8.2.1 Argue whether the United States has lived up to the ideals written in the Declaration of Independence by considering the authors, signers, and their ideals.

SS8.2.1.a Analyze the definition of liberty according to the Declaration of Independence.

SS8.2.1.b Analyze the grievances and ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

SS8.2.1.c Analyze the backgrounds (race, gender, occupation, religion, age, location, and view of slavery) of the Declaration of Independence signatories, and argue the effect that their perspectives had on their political views.

SS8.2.1.d Analyze events that were immediate influenced by the Declaration of Independence (e.g., French Revolution, Haitian Revolution, Grievance 27, continuation of slavery).

SS8.2.1.e Analyze the ways that the United States has lived up to and fallen short of the ideals in the Declaration of Independence, and argue ways that individuals were left out of the ideas of liberty.

SS8.2.1.f Identify ways that students see the ideals of the Declaration of Independence represented in their lives.

SS8.2.2 The Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights

SS8.2.2 Analyze the events of the Constitutional Convention and the issues raised during the debates.

SS8.2.2.b Analyze the views of the leaders of the Constitutional Convention on critical issues (e.g., slavery, rights of individuals, distribution of political power, representation, rights of states) and how these issues were resolved in the proposed Constitution.

SS8.2.2.c Analyze the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist responses and what they tell us about the new Constitution (e.g., federalism, factions, checks and balances, independent judiciary, republicanism, limited government) (Suggested Federalist Papers – 9, 10, 39, 51, 70, 78, 84).

SS8.2.2.d Explain the amendments in the Bill of Rights, and analyze why they were added to the Constitution.

SS8.2.2.e Argue the current challenges to and uses of the Bill of Rights (e.g., gun ownership, right to protest, right to online privacy, prayer in schools).

3 The Institutions of the United States Government

SS8.3.1 The legislative branch

SS8.3.1 Argue the impact of Article I of the Constitution of the United States and the work of Congress with a focus on the critical issues that Congress is debating today.

SS8.3.1.a Analyze the relationship between enumerated and implied powers.

SS8.3.1.b Explain the structural components of Congress and its two houses (e.g., mechanics, specific powers, eligibility, and length of terms of members, how laws are passed).

SS8.3.1.c Explain the process for electing members to Congress.

SS8.3.1.d Identify current legislative leaders for Rhode Island and analyze their positions/platforms.

SS8.3.1.e Argue the importance and impact of recent issues brought before Congress (e.g., gun ownership, abortion, LGBTQIA+ rights, immigration).

SS8.3.1.f Explain the role of political parties and how they influence Congressional legislation.

SS8.3.1.g Explain the relationships between legislators and professional lobbyists, and analyze the positive and negative effects that lobbying has on the legislative process (e.g., corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations, private citizens).

SS8.3.1.h Analyze ways that individual citizens can participate in the legislative process.

SS8.3.2 The executive branch

SS8.3.2 Argue the impact of Article II of the Constitution of the United States and how the power of the presidency has changed over time.

SS8.3.2.a Explain the structure of the executive branch (e.g., cabinet, departments).

SS8.3.2.b Explain the structure of the presidency (e.g., how elected, requirements for office, specific powers, removal process).

SS8.3.2.c Argue how the scope and limits of the presidency (both foreign and domestic) has changed over time.

SS8.3.2.e Analyze the role of the electoral college in presidential elections, and argue its impact in recent elections.

SS8.3.2.f Explain the role and responsibilities of the Vice President.

SS8.3.3 The judicial branch

SS8.3.3 Argue the importance of the role of the Supreme Court and its influence on issues of today.

SS8.3.3.a Explain the structure of the judiciary (e.g., eligibility, length of service, selection, and confirmation process).

SS8.3.3.b Analyze the scope of the Supreme Court and important rulings, past and present.

SS8.3.3.c Analyze how the Supreme Court has interpreted the Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments over time (e.g., due process of law, free speech, equal protection, protection against unreasonable search and seizure), and argue how their decisions impact society.

SS8.3.3.d Analyze current cases before the Supreme Court, and argue how their decisions could affect students.

SS8.3.4 Checks and balances

SS8.3.4 Analyze the ways the branches of government provide checks on one another to limit the abuse of power.

SS8.3.4.a Explain how the three branches of government provide checks on one another, and analyze how effective those checks are.

SS8.3.4.b Explain the Constitution's dual purpose – to enumerate power and to limit the abuse of power.

4 The Structure of Rhode Island State, Local, and Tribal Governments

SS8.4.1 Local governments

SS8.4.1 Argue the current and historic impacts of the city or town government(s) local to students.

SS8.4.1.a Explain the function, funding, leadership, and administration of local city or town government.

SS8.4.1.b Analyze the treatment of different groups of people in the local city or town (e.g., the unhoused, senior citizens, unemployed) and the related resources offered, and argue how treatment and resources have impacted those groups.

SS8.4.1.c Analyze important local issues (e.g., public schools, public services, housing, land use, business regulation) and governmental response, and argue how local responses have impacted these issues.

SS8.4.1.d Explain ways people can create change in their local government (e.g., vote, petition, voice opinions at a hearing).

SS8.4.2 Rhode Island state government

SS8.4.2 Argue the current and historic impact of the Rhode Island state government.

SS8.4.2.a Explain the history of the Rhode Island Constitution (e.g., drafting, signing, amendments), and analyze the influence of the earlier Charter on the creation of the state constitution.

SS8.4.2.b Explain the structure, organization, function, and responsibilities of Rhode Island's General Assembly.

SS8.4.2.c Explain the structure, organization, function, and responsibilities of Rhode Island's executive branch.

SS8.4.2.d Explain the structure, organization, function, and responsibilities of Rhode Island's judiciary.

SS8.4.2.e Explain how state government is funded.

SS8.4.2.f Analyze important state issues (e.g., infrastructure, education, regulation of business, civil and criminal laws, land use) and governmental response, and argue how responses have impacted the issues.