During our first unit students will collaborate and build community through respectful and encouraging discussions.  We will study the purposes of government  and the Preamble of the Constitution. By exploring the concept of representative government, students learn how the power of government resides with the people. Students build upon their knowledge of local government and community by distinguishing the roles of state government from local government and explore why state governments are needed. An understanding of limited government is further enriched through an exploration of how the powers of government are separated among the branches in state government. Students will explore the constitutional principles and the Core Democratic Values that serve to limit power and protect our rights. Finally, students consider important rights and responsibilities of citizenship including the responsibility to be informed about public issues.