Unit/Organizing Principle:
Foundations of American Government
Time Frame: September
Essential Topics:
Origins and Philosophy of Government
Origins and Philosophy of Am. Gov.
The Constitution
Federalism
Performance Standard:
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
C16.1
Summarize and evaluate the significant characteristics
of the world’s major political systems:
• Monarchy
• Totalitarian dictatorship
• Democratic systems
o presidential systems
o parliamentary systems
• Socialism
• Communism
Students will respond to at
least one free-response question per
chapter and one will be on every test.
Free response questions become
more comprehensive as the course
progresses. They will be asked to
make linkages from one unit to
another unit (i.e. Congress to political
parties, elections, interest groups, the
bureaucracy...)
C13.3
Examine the roots of American political philosophy:
Evaluate the influence of these: Greek law,
Magna Carta, Iroquois League, Social Contract Theory,
Natural Rights Philosophy, and Republicanism on the
creation of early U.S. documents
Supplementary Reading and
Primary Documents
C13.9
C14.1
Distinguish between the expressed and implied powers
of the national government and the reserved powers of
the states. List concurrent and denied powers. Explain
the changing nature of federalism including the various
descriptions (dual, cooperative)
Supreme Court research case
project
C14.2
Analyze and give examples of the expansion of the
national government through the application of
enumerated powers and implied powers.
C14.4
Use examples to illustrate the supremacy clause in
defining the relationship between state and national
governments
C14.5
Describe the role of tribal and territorial governments in
the U.S.
C14.6
Examine the organization of the U.S. Constitution and
describe the structure it creates, including the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches
C14.9
Analyze the effectiveness of checks and balances in
maintaining the equal division of power.
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Political Process:
Political Parties; Political Beliefs and
Behavoirs
Essential Topics:
Political Parties/Ideology
Public Opinion/Political Socialization
Time Frame: October
Performance Standard:
C15.2
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
Explain the different ideologies from liberal to
conservative.
Compare and contrast major political parties.
Describe the evolution, function and organization of the
political parties.
Analyze the impact of third parties.
Describe the role the parties play in organizing and the
functioning of government.
Discuss the party-in-the-electorate.
Internet research and political
ideology/ party
Describe public opinion and explain the influence it has
on political socialization.
C15.3
Examine how public opinion is formed and the various
methods used to measure.
Evaluate how polling and public opinion
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Political Process:
Elections
Essential Topics:
Elections and Voting/Campaign process
Mass Media
Time Frame: November
Performance Standard:
C15.1
C13.7
C15.4
C15.5
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
Differentiate between methods of nomination.
Explain open and closed primaries.
Define and explain primary, general, and special
election.
Describe the presidential nominating process.
Explain the mechanics of the voting process.
Explain the role of the Electoral College.
List voter qualifications.
Examine Congressional elections, redistricting, the
incumbency advantage, and off year elections.
Evaluate voter behavior.
Identify and evaluate reasons for non-voting.
Examine the election campaign process.
Describe the campaign finance laws.
Hardball
The Living Room Campaign (political
List and give examples of propaganda techniques.
Analyze the role of advertising.
Recognize the role the media plays in a democracy.
Describe the role of the media in campaigns.
Discuss the government regulation of the media.
commercials) A& E
The Power Game – The Unelected –
Media
Election Analysis Project – Analysis of
presidential election returns from
1980- 2008; interpretation of
demographic and geographic results;
written and oral presentation of
analysis.
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Interest groups
Time Frame: December
Essential Topics:
Organization and functions of interest groups
Performance Standard:
C15.3
C13.7
Content/Process:
Describe the influence of interest groups.
List and explain the different methods used by interest
groups.
Examine the success of interest groups.
Evaluate the influence of political action committees.
Study the linkage of interest groups to the institutions of
government.
Activities/Assessments:
The Power Game -Interest Groups
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Time Frame: December
EssentialTopics:
Constitutional Protections
Landmark Cases
Legislation
Performance Standard:
C13.5
C13.6
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
Identify the protections guaranteed under the main body
of the Constitution and the Amendments.
Cite specific examples of liberties defined by court
decisions and laws.
Explain the significance of the 14th Amendment and
selective incorporation.
Evaluate the Due Process Clause.
Review the history of Civil Rights and study landmark
cases.
Evaluate the Equal protection clause of the 14th
amendment.
Compare and contrast past civil rights legislation with
current equal protection issues.
Analysis of Landmark Supreme
Court Cases
List methods of acquiring of citizenship.
C13.8
Court Case research project
(materials on reserve
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Congress
Time Frame: January
EssentialTopics:
Structure
Functions
Performance Standard:
C14.6
C14.10
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
Describe the structure of Congress.
List qualifications, terms of office and benefits of
members of Congress.
Explain the apportionment procedure.
Identify the leadership positions in the House of
Representatives and the Senate and be able to identify
the current leaders.
Describe the current party membership of Congress and
explain the role political parties play in the organization
of the Congress.
Describe the committee system.
Explain the lawmaking function of Congress.
Identify the non-lawmaking functions of Congress.
Describe how members of Congress make decisions
including the role of colleagues, party, caucuses,
interest groups, PACs, and staff.
Explain the importance of legislative staff.
Discuss the advantages of incumbency.
Evaluate Congressional oversight of the Executive
Branch.
Data Analysis of Congress –
analysis of incumbency rates, party
loyalty…
Data Analysis of Vital Statistics
in American Politics – relation
between public opinion and
presidential approval ratings
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Time Frame: February
Presidency
Bureaucracy
Essential Topics:
Structure
Functions
Performance Standard:
C14.6
C14.11
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
List the qualifications, term of office and benefits of the
office of the President.
Describe the provisions of the 25th Amendment.
Identify the order of succession.
Delineate the powers, duties and roles of the Presidents.
Understand the causes that have led to changes and
growth in the modern presidency.
Identify the composition and functions of the Cabinet.
Cite examples of executive departments, White House
offices and staff, independent regulatory agencies, and
executive agencies.
Evaluate the role of public opinion and the media on the
office of the President.
Describe the organization of the modern bureaucracy.
Define iron triangles and issue networks.
Evaluate Congressional, Executive, and Judicial
oversight of the bureaucracy.
The Power Game – Congress
and the President PBS
American Presidents ABC
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Public Policy
Time Frame: March
Essential Topics:
Social Welfare Policy
Economic Policy
Foreign and Military Policy
Performance Standard:
C15.6
E10.1
E10.3
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
Understand the policy-making process including agenda
setting, policy formulation, policy adoption, budgeting,
implementation, and evaluation.
Analyze income security, health care, and public
education policy.
Define and discuss monetary and fiscal policy.
Analyze the budgetary process.
Discuss the economics of regulating environmental
pollution.
Describe the machinery of modern foreign policy making.
Discuss the challenges to presidential power in foreign
and military policy including the bureaucracy, news
media, public, and Congress.
Students have daily reading
assignments from the textbook,
supplemental readings (by unit),
weekly articles selected from various
websites.
C16.2
C16.3
C16.4
Unit/Organizing Principle:
Judiciary
Time Frame: April
Activity - Analysis of budget with use
of current data, charts, graphs;
evaluation of the trends in mandatory
spending with an analysis of different
plans to deal with the growth of
entitlements
Essential Questions:
Structure
Functions
Performance Standard:
C14.6
C14.12
Content/Process:
Activities/Assessments:
Describe the structure of the Federal Court system.
Explain the selection process and term of office for
federal judges.
Describe the composition of the Supreme Court and the
philosophies of its members. Distinguish between
original and appellate jurisdiction.
Describe how cases reach and are argued in front of the
Court.
Evaluate the decision making process of the Court.
Describe judicial policy making and implementation
process.
Distinguish between state and federal jurisdiction.
Explain the nature of the jury system.
Describe the state court system.
Differentiate between civil and criminal law.
Differentiate between felony and misdemeanor. Explain
the criminal trial process.
C14.13
Unit/Organizing Principle:
State and Local Government
Time Frame: May
Essential Questions:
Structure
Qualifications
Functions
Performance Standard:
C14.7
C14.3
C13.8
C14.8
Content/Process:
Explain the structure of state government.
List the qualifications, terms of office, and
compensation for the three branches of government.
Explain biennial sessions and special sessions of the
legislature.
Explain the apportionment of the legislature. Define
initiative, referendum, and recall. Identify and explain
the duties of mayor, city council, city manager, and
county commission. Identify and explain the public
services available from county/local government.
Activities/Assessments: