SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM
BASED ON MSDE STANDARDS AND GOALS
National, State, and Local Government
1
UNIT ONE
Political Principles and Structure of Systems
Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs • Department of Curriculum and Instruction
850 Hungerford Drive • Rockville, Maryland 20850
www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd
© 2003 MCPS
Introduction
This is Unit One, NSL Government A. Included are the required MSDE Content Standards and
Assessment Limits for the Government HSA. MCPS has organized the standards and limits into a
series of Lesson Sequences and suggested sessions for instruction. MCPS has also broken down the
standards into Content Focus Statements. These should aid in writing mastery objectives for individual classes. Also included is a pre-assessment, end of units assessment, formative assessments,
and an assessment bank - all based on the MSDE standards and limits for this unit. However, before
jumping into the minutia, start with the big picture.
Begin by reading the Enduring Understanding and Essential Questions below. Those two items
encapsulate the whole idea or WHY of the unit. Why, as in “Why study this?” As you read through
the unit you will notice a sequential build up to the ideas expressed in the Enduring Understanding.
Next review the WHAT (next page); this is the MSDE Content Standards for this unit. These standards represent what MSDE wants students to be able to know and do. The MSDE standards that are
specific to each lesson are restated at the beginning of each session. The rest of the outline and what
you do in the classroom is the HOW.
Why?
Enduring Understanding
• People form governments to provide a structure for making and enforcing decisions that affect the common good.
• Governments may have constitutions that define their structure and power.
• The U.S. Constitution defines a structure of government in which power is divided
between national and state governments in a federal system and between
branches through separation of powers. Power is limited through the use of
checks and balances. State and local systems of government have similar structures.
• All governments address the relationship between liberty and authority. Democracies, as a form of limited government, derive power from the consent of the governed to avoid tyranny and protect people’s rights.
Possible Essential Questions
1. Why have government?
2. What is the common good?
3. What is rule of law?
4. How does the Constitution ensure the sharing and separation of power?
5. Why has the Constitution endured?
6. Which principles are essential to a democracy?
TENTH GRADE • UNIT 1 • ©2003 MCPS SOCIAL STUDIES
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Concept Map
NSL - Unit One • Political Principles and Structure of Systems
and
separates
and limits
power
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Executive
Executive
Executive
Legislative
Legislative
Legislative
Judicial
Judicial
Democratic
Political System
Local
Government
• rule of law
• Individual rights for all
• limited government
is diffused in a
wt
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affect
THE
PEOPLE
POWER
Societal
Decisions
How to preserve?
How
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The
Common
Good
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makes and
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Democratic Political System Authoritarian Political System
t?
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op
is focused in a
Authoritarian Political System
State
Government
makes and
enforce
Democratic Political System
THE
PEOPLE
National
Government
of all
create
The
Constitution
defines
structure
Authoritarian Political System
• Government has Unlimited Power
• Rule of Physical Might
• Rights only for Most Powerful
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TENTH GRADE • UNIT 1 • ©2003 MCPS SOCIAL STUDIES
What?
MSDE Content Standards (5/19/00) Addressed in this Unit
[italics = not directly assessed , bold = MSDE glossary word, [brackets] = MCPS notes]
Political Systems
Students demonstrate understanding of the nature and purposes of various forms of government,
including the United States government.
1. Analyze the relationship between governmental authority and individual liberty. (G1.1.2, 1.2.1)
2. Compare the relationships among the purposes of government, the distribution of power, and the
rights and powers of the governed in various political systems. (G 2.2.1)
3. Analyze advantages and disadvantages of various types of governments throughout the world. (G
2.2.1)
Students demonstrate understanding of the foundations, values, and principles underlying democracy
and government in the United States.
1. Describe the fundamental American political principles contained in the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, United States Constitution and Federalist Papers. (G 1.1.1,
1.1.2)
2. Compare the fundamental American political principles to principles of government and law
developed by leading European political thinkers such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau.
(G 1.1.1, 1.1.2)
3. Explain the importance of the British political system (i.e. the Magna Carta, Glorious Revolution of England) to the foundations of the American political system (6.2.12.3).
Students demonstrate understanding of how the United States Constitution allocates
power and responsibility in the government.
1. Evaluate how the principles of government assist and impede the functioning of government. (G
1.1.2)
2. Explain how the executive, judicial, and legislative branches make public policy, including the
United States Constitution’s separation of powers and the system of checks and balances. (G
1.1.2, 1.1.3)
Students demonstrate understanding of the organization and functions of the national,
state, and local governments under a federal system.
1. Compare the national and state governments with emphasis on the structures, functions, and
authority of each; how power and responsibility are distributed, shared, and limited in the
system of federalism established by the U.S. Constitution. (G 1.1.1, 1.1.2)
2. Examine the impact of division of power on institutions, groups, and individuals in contemporary situations. (G 1.1.3, 1.1.4)
3. Assess the degree to which the powers of the federal government have expanded in relation to
the states. (G 1.2.1)
Students demonstrate understanding of the evolution and changing interpretation of the United States
Constitution and its Amendments.
1. Analyze the historical contexts of amendments to the United States Constitution in terms of the
conflicts they addressed and the reasons for their adaptation. (G 1.1.1)
2. Analyze legislation, court decisions, and key cases dealing with interpretations of the United
States Constitution, including, but not limited to Marbury v. Madison, McCullouch v. Maryland,
Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education. (G 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2.1)
Social Studies Skills
1. Demonstrate understanding of the meaning, implication, and impact of historical events and
hypothesize how events could have taken other directions. (SFS 2.2.2, 2.2.3)
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Instructional Flow
NSL - Unit One • Political Principles and Structures of Systems
Pre - Assessment
What did you learn about government in previous grades? Why do people form
governments? Students respond to selected response items and write a paragraph
about the need for and purposes of government
Us
et
o
m
Students use Turning Point Timeline Cards to learn about the foundations and principles of government.
Students learn:
¥ a chronological overview of the development of government
¥ types and structures of government
¥ principles of government from the Magna Carta and European Enlightenment thinkers
¥ fundamental principles of American government
uct
instr ion fo
r
ify
od
LS 1 Foundations and Principles (4 sessions)
LS 2 Federalism (3 sessions)
crea
Students learn about the principle of federalism using select Turning Point Timeline Cards,
the Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, and current legislation. Students preview:
¥ how power is divided in a federal system
¥ how the division of power affects institutions, groups, and individuals
¥ how the Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v Maryland expands federal power
e
te s a n ov
rv
an
i
ew
to
p r ev iew
d
LS 3 Democracy Is Limited Government (3 sessions)
Students learn how government power is limited by using select Turning Point Timeline Cards,
the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Supreme Court decisions. Students preview how:
¥ separation of powers and checks and balances works in our government
¥ the principle of judicial review is established through the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison
¥ the Constitution is a living document that may be changed through the amending process
¥ the Bill of Rights protects individual rights at the national level of government
all
assessed
by
End of Unit Assessment
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TENTH GRADE • UNIT 1 • ©2003 MCPS SOCIAL STUDIES