Welcome!
During the next four weeks we will cover content in accordance with the 12th grade California State Standards, including:
12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.
12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.
- 12.1.1. Analyze the influence of ancient Greek, Roman, English, and leading European political thinkers such as John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, Niccolò Machiavelli, and William Blackstone on the development of American government.
- 12.1.3 Explain how the U.S. Constitution reflects a balance between the classical republican concern with promotion of the public good and the classical liberal concern with protecting individual rights; and discuss how the basic premises of liberal constitutionalism and democracy are joined in the Declaration of Independence as "self-evident truths."
- 12.2.2. Explain how economic rights are secured and their importance to the individual and to society (e.g., the right to acquire, use, transfer, and dispose of property; right to choose one’s work; right to join or not join labor unions; copyright and patent).
- 12.2.4. Understand the obligations of civic-mindedness, including voting, being informed on civic issues, volunteering and performing public service, and serving in the military or alternative service.
- 12.2.5 Describe the reciprocity between rights and obligations; that is, why enjoyment of one’s rights entails respect for the rights of others.
- 12.3.4. Compare the relationship of government and civil society in constitutional democracies to the relationship of government and civil society in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes.
- 12.7.5. Explain how public policy is formed, including the setting of the public agenda and implementation of it through regulations and executive orders.
- 12.8.2. Describe the roles of broadcast, print, and electronic media, including the Internet, as means of communication in American politics.
- 12.9.1 Explain how the different philosophies and structures of feudalism, mercantilism, socialism, fascism, communism, monarchies, parliamentary systems, and constitutional liberal democracies influence economic policies, social welfare policies, and human rights practices.
- 12.9.3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government.
- 12.10 Students formulate questions about and defend their analyses of tensions within our constitutional democracy and the importance of maintaining a balance between the following concepts: majority rule and individual rights; liberty and equality; state and national authority in a federal system; civil disobedience and the rule of law; freedom of the press and the right to a fair trial; the relationship of religion and government.
Unit Plan Outline
In this unit, the big ideas that will be covered are:
- Principles of Government- forms of government and basic concepts of democracy.
- Origins of American Government- the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
- The Constitution- the 6 basic principle of government, the Bill of Rights, and the Amendments
- Federalism- the division of power.