Overview: 

How do governments and laws both serve and define the political culture of the community and the state? 

The Foundations of Government unit is designed to equip students with an understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of government and to explore the delicate balance between government intervention and individual liberty. Students will gain an understanding of the structure of the Constitution, including an introductory examination of the Constitutional Amendments, with a primary focus on the Bill of Rights. This unit serves as an introduction that allows students to define their opinions about the role of government and provides opportunities throughout the year-long course to test and refine those opinions.

Throughout the unit, students will engage in various activities, including close reading of primary and secondary sources, analysis of founding documents, class discussions, and debates. These activities will foster critical thinking, promote historical and philosophical inquiry, and enhance students' understanding of the foundations of government. By the end of the unit, students will have a solid understanding of the origins of government, the structure and function of government at different levels, the processes for amending constitutions, and the principles and values that underpin democracy in the United States.

The highlighted evidence outcomes are the priority for all students, serving as the essential concepts and skills. It is recommended that the remaining evidence outcomes listed be addressed as time allows, representing the full breadth of the curriculum.

Students Can (Evidence Outcomes):

• Describe the origins, purposes, and limitations of government, and include the contribution of key philosophers and American historical figures of diverse backgrounds. (4.2.a)

• Identify the structure, function, and roles of current members of local, state, and national governments. Including but not limited to: understanding the three branches of government at each level of government. (4.2.b)

• Analyze the processes for amending the Constitutions of Colorado and the United States and the significant changes that have occurred to those documents including both the Colorado and the United States’ Bills of Rights. (4.2.c)

• Explain the principles of a democracy and analyze how competing democratic values are balanced. For example: Freedom and security, individual rights and common good, general welfare, and rights and responsibilities (4.2.d) 

• Describe the role and development of the founding documents of Colorado and the United States from their inception to modern day. Including but not limited to: the Great Law of Peace, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutions of the United States and Colorado, the Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights. (4.2.e)

• Compare and contrast how other systems of government function. For example: Authoritarian regimes, parliamentary, and other systems. (4.2.i)