Government

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**11th/12th Grade ****American Government ** **Focus Statement **: The opportunity for most United States citizens to learn concepts essential for informed effective citizenship occurs during school years. Therefore, American Government is designed to equip students to be able to be a responsible and informed participant in civic life. Key themes include the purpose of government and heritage of United States government, the Constitution, political parties, citizenship roles, rights and responsibilities, state and local government and government involvement in world affairs.


 * Month || High Achievement Outcome || “I Can” statement (Component) || Assessments || Resources ||
 * August || **GOV.11.1 ** || I can discuss the documents and theories that form the basis of the United States government. ||  ||   ||
 * ^  || **__Origins of United States Government: __** || I can describe how documents and theories influenced the development of the United States government. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can analyze the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">September || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Students will discover the founding of the United States Government through analysis of founding documents and influences on the Founders. ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can define constitution and constitutional government and explain how a constitutional government works. ||  ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can explain how the Articles of Confederation influenced the development of the Constitution of the United States. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">GOV.11.2 ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can explain the purposes of government and the role of government in a citizen’s life. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can outline the six basic principles of the Constitutional government of the United States. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **__<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">The Constitution: __** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can describe how the Constitution is organized. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can discuss how and why a citizen must be able to analyze Constitutional issues. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Students will explore the process in creating the Constitution and analyze the conflicts that came about during the ratification. ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can summarize the process of the Constitutional Conventions. ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">October ||  || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can analyze key conflicts and the resulting compromises that had to be reached within the Constitutional Conventions. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can debate the importance of the Federalist Papers in the push for ratification. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">GOV.11.3 ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can explain the role and powers of the legislative branch. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can explain the role and powers of the executive branch. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **__<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">The Structure and Functions of Government: __** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can explain the role and powers of the judicial branch. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can discuss how each of the three branches of government interact with one another. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Students will learn about the role and powers of each of the three branches of government and about the role that politics have in government. ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can describe how a bill becomes a law. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can outline the powers of the President. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can analyze how the Supreme Court has influenced public policy. ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">November ||  || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can arrange political ideologies along a political spectrum. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can describe the beliefs of each major political ideology. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can analyze how the two major political parties in American politics differ based on ideologies. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">GOV.11.4 ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can define citizenship. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can outline the process that one must take to gain citizenship in the United States. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  || **__<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Citizenship Participation: __** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can explain the duties and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States. ||   ||   ||
 * ^  ||   || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can evaluate the strategies the citizens can use most effectively to influence public policy. ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">December || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Students will find out what it means to be a citizen and the rights and responsibilities that go along with citizenship. ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can develop public policy and attempt to have it implemented at the appropriate level of government. ||  ||   ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">December || **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">Students will find out what it means to be a citizen and the rights and responsibilities that go along with citizenship. ** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;">I can develop public policy and attempt to have it implemented at the appropriate level of government. ||  ||   ||

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 21.3333px;">Resources <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 21.3333px;">Books:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 21.3333px;">Links: <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 21.3333px;">Other:

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