Content Statements: 

•  The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of limited government and protects citizens’ rights; five of these rights are addressed in the First Amendment.

•   A constitution is a written plan for government. The Ohio Constitution and the United States’ Constitution separate the major responsibilities of government among three branches.

•  Individuals have a variety of opportunities to act in and influence their state and national government. Citizens have both rights and responsibilities in Ohio and the United States.

• Laws can protect rights, provide benefits and assign responsibilities.

• Civic participation in a democratic society requires individuals to make informed and reasoned decisions by accessing, evaluating and using information effectively to engage in compromise.

•  The Northwest Ordinance incorporated democratic ideals into the territories. It provided a process for territories to become states and recognized them as equal to the other existing states.