Civics

Course Description: Students in grade twelve pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government. They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state, and local governments, with particular attention paid to important historical documents such as the Federalist Papers. These standards represent the culmination of civic literacy as students prepare to vote, participate in community activities, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship.

During the course students will:

• Explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy
• Evaluate and take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations
• Evaluate and take and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of civil society
• Analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government
• Summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments.
• Evaluate issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices.
• Analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, tribal, and local governments.
• Evaluate and take and defend positions on the influence of the media on American political life.
• Analyze the origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time
• Formulate questions about and defend their analyses of tensions within our constitutional democracy
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