Virginia

Skills

• GOVT The student will apply history and social science skills to the content by

  • a selecting and synthesizing evidence from information sources, including, but not limited to artifacts, primary and secondary sources, charts, graphs, and diagrams, to question and understand government and politics;

    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)

  • b applying geographic skills to determine and/or predict patterns and trends;

    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)

  • c questioning and using inquiry to construct arguments, using evidence from multiple sources;

    • 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)
    • 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)

  • d investigating and analyzing evidence from multiple sources to construct arguments and draw conclusions;

    • 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)
    • 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)

  • e comparing and contrasting historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives;

    • 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)
    • 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)
    • The two-party system (CG-H.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)
    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • f determining cause and effect to analyze connections;

    • 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)
    • 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)
    • The two-party system (CG-H.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

  • g using economic decision-making models to analyze and explain the incentives for and consequences of a specific choice;

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • h engaging and communicating as an informed individual with persons with different perspectives;

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

  • i developing products that reflect an understanding of research and content to make real-life connections; and

  • j contextualizing, corroborating, and evaluating sources for credibility, propaganda, and bias to determine patterns and trends in Virginia and United States government and politics.

    • Role of the media (CG-I.1)

Foundations of American Constitutional Government

• GOVT.1 The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the foundations of American constitutional government by

  • a describing the development of Athenian democracy and the Roman republic to differentiate between a democracy and a republic;

    • Identify types of government (CG-A.2)
    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)

  • b analyzing the foundational principles found in historic writings and prior governing documents, including the Magna Carta, charters of the Virginia Company of London (April 10, 1606; May 23, 1609; and March 12, 1612), the works of Enlightenment philosophers (Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, and others), the Great Awakening, and the English Bill of Rights;

    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)

  • c evaluating the foundational principles expressed in the Constitution of Virginia, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States; and

    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)
    • The Articles of Confederation (CG-B.3)
    • The Constitutional Convention (CG-B.4)
    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)

  • d analyzing George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and James Madison's leadership role in securing adoption of the Bill of Rights by the First Congress.

    • Source analysis: the Federalist Papers (CG-B.5)

• GOVT.2 The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the concept of democracy by

  • a explaining the concepts of popular sovereignty, natural rights, the rule of law, self-government, and "consent of the governed";

    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)
    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)
    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)

  • b comparing structures of government including constitutional republic, autocracy, direct democracy, representative democracy, the presidential system, and the parliamentary system;

    • Authoritarian and democratic governments (CG-A.1)
    • Identify types of government (CG-A.2)

  • c recognizing the equality of all citizens under the law;

    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)
    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)

  • d recognizing majority rule and minority rights;

  • e recognizing the necessity of compromise; and

    • The Constitutional Convention (CG-B.4)
    • Interpreting the Constitution (CG-C.5)

  • f recognizing the freedom of the individual.

    • Authoritarian and democratic governments (CG-A.1)
    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)

• GOVT.3 The student will apply history and social science skills to analyze the Virginia and United States Constitutions and the Bill of Rights by

  • a examining the ratification debates and The Federalist Papers, including but not limited to No. 10 and No. 51;

    • Source analysis: the Federalist Papers (CG-B.5)

  • b evaluating the purposes for government stated in the Preamble;

    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)

  • c defining the structure and authority of the national government as outlined in Article I, Article II, and Article III;

    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)
    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)
    • The judicial branch (CG-D.5)

  • d examining the differences between the powers and authority of state and national governments;

    • Federalism (CG-C.2)
    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Identify levels and branches of government (CG-E.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • e connecting the fundamental principles of checks and balances and separation of powers to the three branches of government;

    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)
    • Checks and balances (CG-D.6)

  • f describing how the Bill of Rights affirms natural rights as something that precedes politics; and

    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)

  • g explaining the amendment process.

    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)

• GOVT.4 The student will apply history and social science skills to explore and understand the significance, reverence, and pride around the foundation of the American republic by

  • a analyzing the five values of liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire government as described by Alexis de Tocqueville;

  • b understanding the meaning and historical significance of the mottos "E Pluribus Unum" and "In God We Trust";

  • c describing the fundamental concepts of American constitutional democracy, including how the government derives its power from the people, and the primacy of individual liberty;

    • Influences on U.S. government (CG-B.1)
    • Source analysis: the Declaration of Independence (CG-B.2)

  • d defining the meaning of the American Creed that calls on citizens to safeguard the liberty of individual Americans within a unified nation, to respect the rule of law, and to preserve the Constitution; and

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)

  • e evaluating how the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights protect freedoms and limit government.

    • Introduction to the Constitution (CG-C.1)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)

• GOVT.5 The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the rights and responsibilities of United States citizenship by

  • a describing the paths to U.S. citizenship;

    • Immigration and naturalization (CG-G.2)

  • b obeying the law and paying taxes;

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • c serving as a juror;

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)

  • d participating in the political process and voting in local, state, and national elections;

    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

  • e performing public service;

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)

  • f keeping informed about current issues;

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)
    • Role of the media (CG-I.1)

  • g practicing personal and fiscal responsibility; and

  • h understanding that the United States has a voluntary military and the importance of Selective Service registration.

    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)

Elections

• GOVT.6 The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the process of local, state, and national elections by

  • a describing how amendments and laws have extended the right to vote to previously disenfranchised Americans;

    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)

  • b examining campaign finance laws and campaign funding and spending, including the impact of Supreme Court decisions, the nationalization of campaign financing, and the role of interest groups;

  • c describing the nomination and election process, including the organization and evolving role of political parties and interest groups

    • The two-party system (CG-H.1)
    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

  • d analyzing the influence of media coverage, campaign advertising, public opinion polls, social media, and digital communications;

    • Role of the media (CG-I.1)

  • e explaining the role of the Electoral College and the impact of reapportionment and redistricting on elections and governance; and

    • Presidential elections (CG-H.2)

  • f evaluating challenges of the election process, including redistricting and gerrymandering.

• GOVT.7 The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the scope and limits of the powers of the legislative branch of the federal government as delineated in Article I of the United States Constitution by

  • a describing its structure and the process for the election of its members;

    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)

  • b describing how the power of the legislative branch has changed over time; and

    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • Supreme Court cases on the balance of power (CG-D.7)

  • c evaluating how the processes of the legislative branch reflect the democratic principles of American constitutional government.

    • The Constitutional Convention (CG-B.4)
    • Interpreting the Constitution (CG-C.5)
    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • How a bill becomes a law (CG-D.2)

• GOVT.8 The student will apply history and science skills to describe the scope and limits of the powers of the executive branch of the federal government as delineated in Article II of the United States Constitution by

  • a describing the structure and organization of the executive branch;

    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)
    • Executive departments and independent agencies (CG-D.4)

  • b describing how the power of the executive branch has changed over time, including the Twentieth, Twenty-second, and Twenty-fifth Amendments; and

    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)

  • c comparing and contrasting executive branch processes with those of the legislative branch.

    • The legislative branch (CG-D.1)
    • The executive branch (CG-D.3)

• GOVT.9 The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the scope and limits of the powers of the federal judiciary as delineated in Article III of the United States Constitution by

  • a describing the organization, jurisdiction, and proceedings of federal courts;

    • The judicial branch (CG-D.5)

  • b explaining how the Marshall Court established the Supreme Court as an independent branch of government in Marbury v. Madison;

    • Interpreting the Constitution (CG-C.5)

  • c describing how the Supreme Court decides cases; and

    • The judicial branch (CG-D.5)
    • Supreme Court cases on the balance of power (CG-D.7)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)

  • d comparing the philosophy of originalism, judicial pragmatism, judicial activism, and judicial restraint.

    • Interpreting the Constitution (CG-C.5)

State and Local Government

• GOVT.10 The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the organization and powers of the state and local governments as described in the Constitution of Virginia by

  • a analyzing legislative, executive, and judicial branches;

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

  • b explaining the law-making process at the state and local levels;

    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)

  • c examining the structure and powers of local governments (county, city, and town);

    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)

  • d analyzing the relationship between state and local governments and the roles of regional authorities, governing boards, and commissions;

    • Identify levels and branches of government (CG-E.2)

  • e comparing partisan and nonpartisan offices; and

  • f investigating and explaining the ways individuals and groups exert influence on state and local governments.

    • Introduction to state and local government (CG-E.1)
    • Political participation (CG-H.3)

• GOVT.11 The student will apply history and social science skills to analyze civil liberties and civil rights by

  • a explaining the difference between civil rights and civil liberties;

    • What are civil liberties and civil rights? (CG-F.1)

  • b explaining the purpose of the Bill of Rights, with emphasis on First Amendment freedoms;

    • The Constitutional Convention (CG-B.4)
    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)

  • c analyzing the rights of the accused and due process of law expressed in the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment;

    • Constitutional amendments (CG-C.3)
    • The Bill of Rights (CG-C.4)
    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)

  • d explaining how the Supreme Court has applied most of the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states through a process of selective incorporation;

    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)

  • e evaluating the balance between individual liberties and the public interest; and

    • Supreme Court cases on the Bill of Rights (CG-F.2)
    • Rights and responsibilities of active citizenship (CG-G.1)

  • f examining how civil liberties and civil rights are protected under the law.

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

• GOVT.12 The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the role of the United States in a changing world by

  • a describing the responsibilities of the federal government for foreign policy and national security;

    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • b assessing and analyzing the role of national interest in shaping foreign policy and promoting world peace; and

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

  • c examining the relationship of Virginia and the United States in the global economy, including trends in international trade.

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

• GOVT.13 The student will apply history and social science skills to understand the role of the United States in a changing world by

  • a evaluating the economic and political systems of capitalism, communism, Marxism, socialism, fascism, authoritarianism, and totalitarianism;

    • Authoritarian and democratic governments (CG-A.1)
    • Identify types of government (CG-A.2)
    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)

  • b comparing the characteristics of economies as described by Adam Smith, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and Thomas Sowell;

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)

  • c comparing and contrasting capitalism and socialism as economic systems, including the role of government in each and individual economic freedoms;

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)

  • d explaining the differences between the principles of the Bill of Rights and the Communist Manifesto;

  • e evaluating the factors that influence production and distribution of goods in a market system; and

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • f explaining how competition and free enterprise influence the local, national, and global economies.

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)

The Role of Government in the Economy

• GOVT.14 The student will apply history and social science skills to explain the role of government in the Virginia and United States economies by

  • a explaining government's limited but important role in free enterprise and how that affects individual economic freedoms;

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • b describing the provision of government goods and services that are not readily produced by the market;

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • c evaluating government's establishment and maintenance of the rules and institutions in which markets operate, including the establishment and enforcement of property rights, contracts, consumer rights, labor-management relations, environmental protection, and competition in the marketplace;

    • Economic systems (CG-J.1)
    • Free trade and protectionism (CG-J.2)
    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • d investigating and describing the types and purposes of taxation that are used by local, state, and federal governments to pay for services provided by the government;

    • Government services and taxes (CG-J.3)

  • e analyzing how Congress can use fiscal policy to stabilize the economy;

  • f describing how the Federal Reserve can use monetary policy to pursue price stability, full employment, and economic growth with the goal of stabilizing the economy; and

  • g evaluating the trade-offs in government decisions.

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