Government Unit 1

Big Idea:

Understand people and events that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

Student Expectations:

Priority TEKS

GOV.8(A) analyze the structure and functions of the legislative branch of government, including the bicameral structure of Congress, the role of committees, and the procedure for enacting laws

GOV.8(B) analyze the structure and functions of the executive branch of government, including the constitutional powers of the president, the growth of presidential power, and the role of the Cabinet and executive departments

GOV.8(C) analyze the structure and functions of the judicial branch of government, including the federal court system, types of jurisdiction, and judicial review

Focus TEKS

GOV.1(A) explain major political ideas in history, including the laws of nature and nature's God, unalienable rights, divine right of kings, social contract theory, and the rights of resistance to illegitimate government

GOV.1(B) identify major intellectual, philosophical, political, and religious traditions that informed the American founding, including Judeo-Christian (especially biblical law), English common law and constitutionalism, Enlightenment, and republicanism, as they address issues of liberty, rights, and responsibilities of individuals

GOV.1(C) identify the individuals whose principles of laws and government institutions informed the American founding documents, including those of Moses, William Blackstone, John Locke, and Charles de Montesquieu

GOV.1(E) examine debates and compromises that impacted the creation of the founding documents

GOV.12(A) compare the U.S. constitutional republic to historical and contemporary forms of government such as monarchy, a classical republic, authoritarian, socialist, direct democracy, theocracy, tribal, and other republics

GOV.12(B) analyze advantages and disadvantages of federal, confederate, and unitary systems of government

GOV.12(C) analyze advantages and disadvantages of presidential and parliamentary systems of government

Ongoing TEKS

GOV.20(A) analyze information by sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause-and-effect relationships, comparing, contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations and predictions, and drawing inferences and conclusions

GOV.20(B) create a product on a contemporary government issue or topic using critical methods of inquiry;

GOV.20(C) analyze and defend a point of view on a current political issue

GOV.20(D) analyze and evaluate the validity of information, arguments, and counterarguments from primary and secondary sources for bias, propaganda, point of view, and frame of reference

GOV.20(E) evaluate government data using charts, tables, graphs, and maps

GOV.20(F) use appropriate mathematical skills to interpret social studies information such as maps and graphs

GOV.21(A) use social studies terminology correctly

GOV.21(B) use standard grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation

GOV.21(C) transfer information from one medium to another, including written to visual and statistical to written or visual, using computer software as appropriate

GOV.21(D) create written, oral, and visual presentations of social studies information

GOV.22(A) use a problem-solving process to identify a problem, gather information, list and consider options, consider advantages and disadvantages, choose and implement a solution, and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution

GOV.22(B) use a decision-making process to identify a situation that requires a decision, gather information, identify options, predict consequences, and take action to implement a decision

Student Learning Targets:

• I will describe the major types of government found throughout the world.
• I will identify the major philosophical origins of American government.
• I will understand the significance and impact of the Declaration of Independence.
• I will contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
• I will compare the differences between the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Great (Connecticut) Compromise.

Essential Questions:

• What is the purpose of government?
• What principles guide different types of governments?
• Why and how did the colonists declare independence?
• What influenced the development of our governmental institutions & founding documents?

Extra Information:

Adopted Textbook:

District Grading Policy

Texas Gateway Online Resource Center