Purpose

The purpose of this eleventh grade social studies course is the study of American Government.  The study of American Government is based on government: of, by and for the people.  There are three questions that should be answered: who shall govern, how they shall govern, and what the extent of government should be.  To answer these questions is to increase understanding of our democratic system and to increase students' ability to participate in the political process.

This course should introduce students to the form and functions of the federal, state and local government in the United States.  The course must be flexible enough to accommodate issues in the news at any time.  The course concentrates on an examination of our democratic government.  There is a major examination at all three levels of government.  The Constitution will be examined with an emphasis on civil rights.

The learner will be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of the responsibilities of individual citizenship.
• demonstrate knowledge of the structure, functions, and politics of constitutional democracy within the States.
• demonstrate knowledge of regional and world governmental organizations and alliances.
• demonstrate knowledge of cultural diversity and unity in American society.
• demonstrate knowledge of the role and function of law in a democracy.
• demonstrate knowledge of peaceful and non-peaceful options available in conflict resolution at the world, national, and local levels.

This course will focus on developing skills needed in order to function in an participatory democracy.  Students should be taught to consider viewpoints expressed by others and to develop and express their own reasoned positions.  Controversial public issues should be emphasized.  Both domestic and foreign policy issues should be raised for discussion.  The students will derive meaning by accessing, creating, and processing information through use of visual aids, media, and technology.

The learner will be able to:

• develop research skills by gathering, interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and evaluating information.
• use visual aids such as charts, graphs, maps and photographs.
• use media and technology as tools to access, create, and process information.
• develop a process to reach informed and reasoned positions on public policy issues.
• develop communication skills to express knowledge and ideas about society through various forms of expression.

In this course, students continue to develop a reasoned commitment to the principles and beliefs that make democracies function.  Students recognize the importance of conflicting points of view and peaceful controversy in a democratic society.  The students will learn about the political roles of observer, advocate, organizer, and leader.

The learner will be able to:

• demonstrate an informed and reasoned interpretation of civil rights and equal dignity of all people.
• explain how democratic process contributes to a peaceful resolution of social and political conflicts.
• develop an informed and reasoned understanding of responsible conduct by all citizens in accordance with the rule of law in a constitutional democracy.

Students should be encouraged to be actively involved in public affairs at all levels of government.  In addition, students consider limits that  should be placed on the exercise of power in a democracy.  Students should be provided with opportunities to participate in community and civic improvement and service to others.

The learner will be able to:

• participate in a group discussion of public issues.
• participate in classroom and/or local community community service activities.

The learner will be able to:

• understand why we have government.
• identify different types of government (i.e., democracy, socialism, communism, monarchy, and totalitarianism).
• understand the differences between presidential and parliamentary systems and the functional distribution of power.
• compare and contrast unitary, confederation and federal systems of governments.
• explain the advantages and disadvantages of a federal system of government.

The learner will be able to:

• understand how the Constitution derived from the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
• identify the functions of the three branches of government and explain their checks and balances.
• recognize how the Constitution has changed through formal and informal amendments and court interpretations.

The learner will be able to:

•  recognize that rights come from the Bill of Rights and other constitutional amendments.
• appreciate the importance of court decisions and their impact on individual rights.
• identify the challenges of diversity in American life.

The learner will be able to:

• identify factors which influence individual political beliefs and values.
• understand the process of gaining or losing citizenship.
• identify various types of political parties and party systems and understand how they effect the political process.
• recognize the impact that pressure groups have on the political process.
• understand how elections are conducted and the importance of elections in a democracy.

The learner will be able to:

• summarize the constitutional requirements of the Executive Branch and the amendments that apply to that branch.
• understand the presidential selection process including primaries, conventions, the election and the Electoral College.
• analyze and compare the formal duties of the president to the informal roles.
• identify roles and functions of the Cabinet and the federal bureaucracy.
• understand how American foreign policy is developed.
• evaluate the relationship between the U.S. government and international organizations.
• appreciate how powerful American influence is around the world.

The learner will be able to:

• list and discuss the requirements for membership in each house of Congress.
• describe the lawmaking process.
• understand apportionment and gerrymandering.

The learner will be able to:

• describe the judicial appointment process.
• describe the Federal Court System and the routes a case may take to the Supreme Court.
• understand the decision making process within the Supreme Court.
• analyze the process of judicial review and its origins.

The learner will be able to:

• compare and contrast state government with the federal government.
• recognize the functions of and differences among the various forms of local government.