Unit Objectives

Government

 Identify major forms of government (autocracy, monarchy, dictatorship, representative and direct democracy, oligarchy, theocracy, anarchy)

 Compare and contrast the major roles of government (Write laws, keep order, help citizens, and protect).

 Distinguish the levels of government in the U.S. (Federal, state, county, city/town)

 Analyze examples of real-world governments

Political Parties

 Define “political party.”

 Identify America’s two major political parties.

 Describe the roles of political parties.

 Explain what third parties are and the issues around ballot access for third parties.

 Identify ways that political parties influence public policy.

Interest Groups

 Identify three ways groups and organizations can influence the actions of government.

 Explain how individuals, public opinion, associations and groups form and carry out public policy.

 Describe the position of opposing groups on a public policy issue.

Media

 Analyze the role of mass media in monitoring and influencing government and the public sphere.

 Explain the impact of the media on monitoring and influencing government and the public sphere.

 Analyze media communications for bias.

 Recognize the media acting in its roles as gatekeeper, agenda-setter, and watchdog.

Candidate Evaluation

 Establish, explain, and apply criteria useful in selecting political leaders.

 Evaluate candidates based on their qualifications, experience, speeches, and advertisements.

 Evaluate information and arguments from various sources.

 Analyze multiple perspectives on public and current issues.