US/AZ GOVERNMENT

US/AZ GOVERNMENT STANDARDS (draft)

In high school, students explore how to become active citizens. To become engaged citizens requires a knowledge of the history, principles, and foundations of our republic. A comprehensive study of civics can be approached from many angles and perspectives with a focus on inquiry.

A civics course can be organized in a variety of ways including thematic, chronological, or chrono-thematic.

The course should include content from the following topics:

• Foundations of government including but not limited to the historical foundations and philosophical foundations of the American political system, the purpose and role of government, and where government gets its authority

• Structures and function of tribal, local, state, national, and international governments including but not limited to constitutional vs. non-constitutional governments, how governments are organized (shared powers vs. parliamentary systems, confederal, federal, and unitary systems), limits and powers of the legislative, judicial, and executive branch, and comparative governments.

• Institutions of the national government including but not limited to Congress, the President, the bureaucracy, and federal courts and institutions of the state government including the legislature, the Governor, the state courts, and the bureaucracy

• Law-making process including the role of deliberation and compromise.

• Media, interest groups, and political parties including but not limited to the how these linkage institutions connect the people to government and shape political and social interests, the role of the free press in the American political system, the origin and role of political parties, the two-party system, the role of third parties in American politics, and the social, political, and economic positions of American political parties in history and the present day.

• Elections, voting, and voting behavior including but not limited to political socialization, creation of legislative and congressional districts, opportunities for participation, campaigns, types of elections including primary process and general election process (local, state, and federal), laws governing elections, voter turnout, and barriers to voting

• Citizenship including rights, roles, and responsibilities of a citizen and the process for naturalization

• American political culture, values, and principles that are basic to American constitutional democracy and the republic such as individual rights, popular sovereignty, common good, patriotism, rule of law, freedom of conscience and expressions, privacy and civil society, justice, representative government, checks and balances, freedom of religion, civilian control of the military, and equality.

• Civil Liberties and Civil Rights including censorship and free speech

• Public policy including researching current issues or policies at the local, state, or federal level • Foreign Policy including but not limited to formation and implementation

• News Literacy Understanding time constraints, LEAs should select a manageable amount of content to support the inquiry process and to educate students about the roles and responsibilities of citizenship.

CIVICS SKILLS AND PROCESSES

Civic virtues and democratic principles are key components of the American political system.

• HS.C1.1 Explain the significance of civic values to a well-functioning constitutional republic.

• HS.C1.2 Evaluate how society and political systems in different contexts promote civic virtue and democratic principles established by the founding documents.

• HS.C1.3 Explain and use deliberative processes implemented in various civic and political institutions.

• HS.C1.4 Analyze the evolution of civic virtues, democratic principles, constitutional rights, and human rights.

Citizens have individual rights, roles, and responsibilities.

• HS.C2.1 Explain the importance of individual participation in civic and political institutions.

• HS.C2.2 Analyze the role of citizens in the United States political system over time and compare this to the role of citizens in other political systems.

• HS.C2.3 Evaluate the evolution of ideals and rights established in historical documents, legislation, executive actions, and court cases.

• HS.C2.4 Analyze the responsibilities of citizens.

• HS.C2.5 Evaluate the evolution of ideals and rights established in historical documents, legislation, executive actions, and court cases.

• HS.C2.6 Compare the rights guaranteed in Arizona Constitution to those in the United States Constitution.

• HS.C2.7 Evaluate the contributions of individuals and groups, including Arizonans, who have played a role in promoting civic and democratic principles.

An understanding of civic and political institutions in society and the principles these institutions are intended to reflect including knowledge about law, politics, and government are essential to effective citizenship.

• HS.C3.1 Examine how the United States Constitution established a system of government that has powers, responsibilities, and limits and analyze how those powers, responsibilities, and limits have changed over time.

• HS.C3.2 Analyze the origins, functions, and structures of government at the national, state, local, and tribal levels and compare with other systems of government.

• HS.C3.3 Analyze the impact of political parties, interest groups, elections, and the media on political institutions.

• HS.C3.4 Analyze the impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, charters, and agreements on the maintenance of international order.

Process, rules, and laws direct how individuals are governed and how society addresses problems.

• HS.C4.1 Evaluate multiple procedures for making governmental decisions in all three branches and at the local, state, tribal, national, and international levels in terms of the civic purpose achieved.

• HS.C4.2 Evaluate local, state, national, and international policies in terms of intended and unintended outcomes and related consequences.

• HS.C4.3 Explain the procedures for elections at the local, state, tribal, and national levels.

• HS.C4.4 Analyze the purpose, process, implementation, and consequences of decision making and public policies in multiple settings and at different levels.