9th Grade Civics

Unit I: Introduction to Government

Unit I Question: What are civic life, politics and government?

1. What are the unique characteristics of American society?

1. Discuss the composition of American society (what is an American?).

1. How society organized and what is is the role of government?

1. Identify government as an element of society.
2. Explain how government relates to other elements of society.
3. Define: citizenship, civics, politics, government, common good, individual good, rule of law and social contract.
4. Analyze the relationship between rule of law and government.
5. Describe how government influences both the societal and individual elements of your life.

1. How have the political philosophies of Hobbes, Locke and Machiavelli (specifically their ideas on human nature) influenced the evolution of government?

1. Explain the theories of Hobbes and Locke and their views on human nature and the purpose of government.
2. Distinguish between power and authority.
3. Defend/refute Machiavelli’s views on leadership.
4. Justify the necessity and purpose of power in private and public life.

1. How do different political systems impact common good and individual good within their society?

1. Classify governments according to limited/unlimited forms and rule by one/few/many.
2. Judge each government as Hobbesian or Lockian.
3. Compare and contrast another form of government to the government of the United States.
4. Explain the purpose, use and conditions necessary for constitutional government.

Unit II: American Political Roots and the Seeds of Democracy

Unit II Question: What are the foundations of the American political systems?

1. What fundamental values and principles are basic to the American constitutional democracy?

1. Identify fundamental American values and ideals of freedom, equality and justice.
2. Provide evidence of how values are manifested in society.
3. Analyze formative documents (Declaration of Independence, Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, Articles of Confederation) for evidence of American values.

1. What events, people and developments were critical to the formation of the American democracy?

1. Describe the political climate and historical setting that led to the foundation of the U.S. government.
2. Analyze events that contributed to the formation of American democracy (Greece, Rome, English Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Constitutional conventions, U.S. Constitution).
3. Summarize the contributions of influential theorists, founders and framers of the American democracy (Theorists: Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Locke. Founders and framers: Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Adams, and Hamilton).

1. How has the American Constitution evolved to ensure the fundamental values of freedom, equality and justice?

1. Describe the U.S. Constitution as a living document and how changes are made.
2. Examine the rights of citizens as outlined in the Bill of Rights.
3. Analyze the relationship between U.S. Supreme Court cases/ Constitutional amendments/the Equal Rights Movement and the values of freedom, equality and justice

Unit III: Structure and Power of the U.S. Government

Unit III Question: How does the government established by the Constitution embody the purposes, values and principles of American democracy?

A. How are power and responsibility distributed, shared and limited in the
government established by the U.S. Constitution?

1. Define the six basic principles of government: limited government, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, judicial review, and popular sovereignty.
2. Explain how the United States Constitution grants and distributes power to national and state government and how it seeks to prevent the abuse of power.
3. Distinguish between the way the power and responsibility of the national and state governments is distributed, shared and limited.

B. How is the federal government organized and what does it do?

1. Summarize the principles contained in Articles I, II and III of the U.S. Constitution.
2. Explain the structure, powers and role of the federal executive branch.
3. Explain the structure, powers and role of the federal legislative branch.
4. Explain the structure, powers and role of the federal judicial branch.
5. Identify key people and their role in the federal government and how they achieve power.
6. Apply the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances to explain how the Constitution limits and distributes power.
7. Describe the process in which a bill becomes a law.

C. How are state and municipal governments organized and what do they do?

1. Explain the structure and responsibilities of state and municipal government.
2. Identify key people and their role in the state and municipal government.
3. Compare and contrast the organization of state and municipal government to the federal government.

Unit IV: Citizenship

Unit IV Question: What are the roles, rights and responsibilities of the citizen in American democracy?

1. How do citizens contribute to and influence the political process in the United States?

1. Identify the unique characteristics of the two party system in America and evaluate its efficiency.
2. Compare and contrast political parties and ideologies.
3. Identify the steps in an election (federal, state, municipal).
4. Discuss the structure and effectiveness of the Electoral College.
5. Explain who and how an individual votes in the United States.
6. Describe the role and responsibilities of a citizen in electing political leaders.

1. What is the meaning of citizenship in the United States? (rights and duties)

1. Gauge the importance or value of an individual’s personal, political and economic rights as an American citizen.
2. Identify the civic responsibilities of a citizen (voting, jury duty, taxes, and military service).
3. Take a position with regard to the “balance” of individual freedom and common good. (post 9-11, Patriot Act)

Exit Standards

Students will be able to:

1. Explain the individual rights of citizens as outlined by the U.S. Constitution and their importance in your life.

1. Evaluate whether or not the U.S. Constitution has protected the rights of citizens and prevented the abuse of government as intended by the framers.

1. Describe important private and public civic traits and practices that contribute to the preservation and improvement of American constitutional democracy.

1. Identify the unique characteristics and principles of American democracy.

1. Analyze, summarize and synthesize information contained in primary documents related to the formation and evolution of the American constitutional democracy.

1. Take a clear position on an issue and write a persuasive essay using information from written sources to support their position. (CAPT)

1. Utilize technology to effectively search for information and evaluate the content and validity of source material, as well as create accurate citation of web and other internet sources.

1. Apply varied reading strategies to interpret and integrate information and ideas from fiction and non-fiction sources to civics concepts.

Short Answers for Exam:

Choose one of the following:

1. In your opinion, what are the three most important events, people and developments that contributed to the formation of the American democracy?

2. Discuss three specific court cases or amendments that helped to ensure the fundamental values of freedom, equality and justice.

Choose one of the following:

1. Explain the individual rights of citizens as outlined by the U.S. Constitution and their importance in your life. Give three examples.

2. In your opinion, has the U.S. Constitution protected the rights of citizens and prevented the abuse of government as intended by the framers. Give three examples to support your position.

You must answer the following question:

1. Using at least five of the eight vocabulary given below, discuss the unique characteristics and principles of American democracy.