Social Studies

Unit 1: The Physical World & Human Interaction

Learning Targets

• Students explain and give an example of the characteristics and distribution of human populations affecting physical and human systems
• Students describe the characteristics of cultures that influence human systems
• Students create a model that represents the cooperation and conflict among people that influence the division and control of Earth’s surface
• Students create a model that depicts the changes that occur in the use, distribution, and importance of natural resources
• Students explain the characteristics and distribution of human populations that affect physical and human systems
• Students explain how human actions modify the physical environment
• Students explain how the patterns of economic interdependence vary among the world’s countries
• Students create a model that outlines the changes that occur in the use and distribution of natural resources

 

Unit 2: Natural Disasters & Human Interaction

Learning Targets

• Students explain changes that occur in the use, distribution, and importance of natural resources
• Students explain how Geographers organize Earth into regions that share common characteristics
• Students explain the physical environment affects people and their activities
• Students explain the physical process shape Earth’s surface

Unit 2: Natural Disasters & Human Interaction

Learning Targets

• Students explain changes that occur in the use, distribution, and importance of natural resources
• Students explain how Geographers organize Earth into regions that share common characteristics
• Students explain the physical environment affects people and their activities
• Students explain the physical process shape Earth’s surface

 

Unit 3: Cultural Geography

Learning Targets

• Students explain certain processes, patterns, and functions that help determine where people settle
• Students explain certain processes, patterns, and functions help determine where people settle
• Students explain the characteristics and distribution of cultures that influence human systems
• Students explain how culture influences people’s perceptions of places and regions
• Students explain the characteristics and distribution of human populations that affect physical and human systems
• Students create a map that describes how the culture in Northern Europe influences human activity in the region
• Students create a map that describes how the culture in Western Europe influences human activity in the region
• Students create a map that describes how the culture in Southern Europe influences human activity in the region
• Students create a map that describes how the culture in Eastern Europe influences human activity in the region

Unit 4: Civil Wars & The Clash for Resources

Learning Targets

• Students explain how the cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth’s surface
• Students explain the characteristics and distribution of ecosystems help people understand environmental issues
• Students explain how the patterns of economic interdependence vary among the world’s countries
• Students explain how changes occur in the use, distribution, and importance of natural resources
• Students explain how human actions modify the physical environment
• Students explain how the physical environment affects people and their activities
• Students explain how physical processes shape Earth’s surface
• Students explain how the places reflect the relationship between humans and the physical environmentStudents explain how the characteristics and distribution of ecosystems help people understand environmental issues

Unit 5: Cultural Geography Part Two

Learning Targets

• Students explain how culture influences people’s perceptions of places and regions
• Students explain how the characteristics and distribution of cultures influence human systems
• Students explain how the places reflect the relationship between humans and the physical environment
• Students explain how geography is used to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future
• Students explain how culture influences people’s perceptions of places and regions
• Students explain the characteristics and distribution of cultures that influence human systems
• Students explain how geographers organize Earth into regions that share common characteristics
• Students explain how the places reflect the relationship between humans and the physical environment
• Students explain how the characteristics and distribution of cultures influence human systems
• Students explain how the culture influences people’s perceptions of places and regions
• Students explain how geography is used to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future
• Students explain how the characteristics and distribution of human populations affect physical and human systems

Unit 1: Thinking Geographically

Learning Targets

• Students identify types of maps, the information presented in maps, and different kinds of spatial patterns and relationships portrayed in maps

• Students identify the different methods of geographic data collection

• Students explain the geographical effects of decisions made using geographical information

• Students ​​​​​​​define major geographic concepts that illustrate spatial relationships

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how major geographic concepts illustrate the spatial relationships

• Students ​​​​​​​define scales of analysis used by geographers

• Students ​​​​​​​explain what scales of analysis reveal

• Students ​​​​​​​describe different ways that geographers define regions

 

Unit 2: Population & Migration

Learning Targets

• Students identify the factors that influence the distribution of human populations at different scales

• Students define methods geographers use to calculate population density

• Students explain the difference between and the impact of methods used to calculate population density

• Students explain how population distribution and density affect society and the environment

• Students describe elements of population composition used by geographers 

• Students explain ways that geographers depicted and analyze population composition

• Students explain factors that account for contemporary and historical trends in population growth and decline

• Students explain theories of population growth and decline

• Students explain the intent and effect of various population and immigration policies on population size and composition

• Students explain how the changing role of females has demographic consequences in different parts of the world

• Students explain the causes and consequences of an aging population

• Students explain how different causal factors encourage migration

• Students describe types of forced and voluntary migration

• Students explain historical and contemporary geographic effects of migration

Unit 3: Cultural Patterns & Processes

Learning Targets

• Students define the characteristics, attitudes, and traits that influence geographers when they study culture

• Students describe the characteristics of cultural landscapes

• Students explain how landscape features and land and resource use reflect cultural beliefs and identities

• Students ​​​​​​​explain patterns and landscapes of language, religion, ethnicity, and gender

• Students ​​​​​​​define the types of diffusion

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how historical processes impact current cultural patterns

• Students ​​​​​​​explain what factors lead to the diffusion of universalizing and ethnic religions

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the process of diffusion results in changes to the cultural landscape

 

Unit 4: Political Patterns & Processes

Learning Targets

• Students define the different types of political entities

• Students ​​​​​​​identify a contemporary example of political entities

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the processes that have shaped contemporary political geography

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the concepts of political power and territoriality as used by geographers

• Students ​​​​​​​define types of political boundaries used by geographers

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the nature and function of international and internal boundaries

• Students ​​​​​​​define federal and unitary states

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how federal and unitary states affect spatial organization

• Students ​​​​​​​define factors that led to the devolution of states

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how political, economic, cultural, and technological changes challenge state sovereignty

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the concepts of centrifugal and centripetal forces apply at the state scale

Unit 5: Agriculture & Rural Land Use

Learning Targets

• Students explain the connection between physical geography and agricultural practices

• Students identify different rural settlement patterns and methods of surveying rural settlements

• Students identify major centers of domestication of plants and animals

• Students explain how plants and animals diffused globally

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the advances and impacts of the second agricultural revolution

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the consequences of the Green Revolution on food supply and the environment in the developing world

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how economic forces influence agricultural practices

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how economic forces influence agricultural practices

• Students ​​​​​​​describe how the von Thünen model is used to explain patterns of agricultural production at various scales

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the interdependence among regions of agricultural production and consumption

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how agricultural practices have environmental and societal consequences

• Students ​​​​​​​explain challenges and debates related to the changing nature of contemporary agriculture and food-production practices

• Students ​​​​​​​explain geographical variations in female roles in food production and consumption

 

Unit 6: Cities & Urban Land Use

• Students explain the processes that initiate and drive urbanization and suburbanization

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how cities embody processes of globalization

• Students ​​​​​​​identify the different urban concepts such as hierarchy, interdependence, relative size, and spacing that are useful for explaining the distribution, size, and interaction of cities

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the internal structure of cities using various models and theories

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how low-, medium-, and high-density housing characteristics represent different patterns of residential land use

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how a city’s infrastructure to local politics, society, and the environment

• Students ​​​​​​​identify the different urban design initiatives and practices

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the effects of different urban design initiatives and practices

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how qualitative and quantitative data are used to show the causes and effects of geographic change within urban areas

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the causes and effects of geographic change within urban areas

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the effectiveness of different attempts to address urban sustainability challenges

Unit 7: Industrial & Economic Development

Learning Targets

• Students explain how the Industrial Revolution facilitated the growth and diffusion of industrialization.

• Students explain the spatial patterns of industrial production and development.

• Students​​​​​​​ describe social and economic measures of development.

• Students​​​​​​​ explain how and to what extent changes in economic development have contributed to gender parity. 

• Students​​​​​​​ explain the different theories of economic and social development. 

• Students​​​​​​​ explain causes and geographic consequences of recent economic changes such as the increase in international trade, deindustrialization, and growing interdependence in the world economy. 

• Students​​​​​​​ explain how sustainability principles relate to and impact industrialization and spatial development. ​​​​​​​

 

Unit 1: Indigenous Peoples in the Americas

Learning Targets

• Students define assimilation, author’s point of view, author’s purpose, context, audience, and primary sources

• Students analyze point of view, purpose, context, and audience of primary sources to develop a greater understanding of the impact of American Indian boarding schools

 

Unit 2: Leading up to the Revolutionary War

Learning Targets

• Students explain how European immigration to the colonies changed between the late 1600’s and 1700’s

• Students analyze the development of slavery in the colonies

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the experience of enslaved Africans in the colonies

• Students ​​​​​​​explore how English traditions influenced the development of colonial governments 

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze the economic relationship between England and its colonies

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the influence of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening on the 13 colonies

Unit 3: The American Revolution

Learning Targets

• Students describe the causes and major events of the French and Indian war

• Students analyze the causes and effects of Pontiac’s Rebellion

• Students summarize how the wars and their outcomes change the relationship between Britain and the Colonies

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the colonists’ political heritage

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the colonists’ reaction to new taxes

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the methods the colonists used to protest British taxes

• Students ​​​​​​​understand the significance of the First Continental Congress in 1774

• Students ​​​​​​​explain why fighting broke out to begin the American Revolution and the Response of the Second Continental Congress

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the Loyalists’ view of the Patriots

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze the impact of Thomas Panie’s Common Sense

• Students ​​​​​​​assess why Congress declared independence and the ideas underlying the Declaration of Independence

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the advantages the British held at the start of the war and the mistakes they made by underestimating the Patriots

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the frontier war

• Students ​​​​​​​evaluate the major military turning points of the war

• Students ​​​​​​​understand the reasons leaders called for the Constitutional Convention

• Students ​​​​​​​summarize the Rival plans of Government proposed at the convention

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the compromises made in order to reach agreement on the Describe the steps Washington’s administration took to build the federal governments

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze Hamilton’s plans for the economy and opposition to them

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how a two-party system emerged in the new nation

Unit 4: The American Civil War

Learning Targets

• Students analyze why slavery in the territories was a divide issue between North and South and how congress tried to settle the issue in 1850

• Students analyze why southern states seceded from the union

• Students analyze how the war changed the economy and society in the North and South

• Students discuss how northern and southern soldiers experienced the war

• Students assess the Impact of the Civil War on North and South

 

Unit 4: World War One

Learning Targets

• Students explain why World War One began and the power struggle between the British, German and Russian Empires in the years leading up to the War

• Students describe the modernization of Warfare as a result of World War One

 

Unit 5: World War Two

Learning Targets

• Students interpret a Map of Major battles and locations during World War Two

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the rise of the Nazi Party

• Students ​​​​​​​explain why the United States became involved in World War Two

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the events that led to the end of World War Two

Unit 6: Korean & Vietnam Wars

Learning Targets

• Students explain why the United States decided to go to War with Korea

• Students explain why the United States decided to go to War with Vietnam

• Students analyze and interpret a Map of Korea

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze and interpret a Map of Vietnam

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the Political Theory “Domino Effect”

• Students ​​​​​​​discuss the pros and cons of War in Korea

• Students ​​​​​​​discuss the pros and cons of War in Vietnam

 

Unit 7: Civil Rights Movement of the 50's, 60's, & 70's

Learning Targets

• Students outline the events of the Civil rights Movement 

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the key events of the Movement

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze the Montgomery Bus Boycott

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze the Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit Ins

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze the March on Selma

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze and explain the significance of the assassinations of Medger Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

Unit 1: Foundations of Financial Literacy

Learning Targets

• Students discuss the importance of financial literacy in making informed financial decisions
• Students define key financial terms such as income, expenses, budget, and net worth
• Students create a personal financial statement to assess one's financial health
• Students explain the concept of opportunity cost and its impact on decision-making

 

Unit 2: Income & Career 

Learning Targets

• Students analyze different sources of income, including earned, passive, and portfolio income
• Students explore the factors that influence career choices and income potential
• Students develop a plan for managing income, including setting financial goals and creating a budget
• Students determine the importance of income taxes and how they affect take-home pay

 

Unit 3: Budgeting & Saving

Learning Targets

• Students create a personal budget that accounts for income, expenses, and savings goals
• Students identify strategies for reducing discretionary and fixed expenses
• Students explain the importance of an emergency fund and develop a plan to establish one
• Students compare different savings and investment options, including savings accounts, CDs, and stocks

 

Unit 4: Banking & Financial Services

Learning Targets

• Students identify the functions and benefits of a checking account
• Students explain how to write checks, make electronic payments, and use a debit card
• Students evaluate the features and fees associated with different types of bank accounts
• Students explore online and mobile banking services and their security measures

 

Unit 5: Credit & Debt

Learning Targets

• Students define key credit terms, including credit score, interest rate, and credit report
• Students calculate the cost of credit and understand how interest rates impact loans
• Students analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different types of credit, such as credit cards and loans
• Students develop responsible credit management strategies to avoid debt problems

Unit 6: Investing

Learning Targets

• Students explain the concept of risk and return in investing
• Students compare different investment vehicles, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
• Students explain the role of diversification in managing investment risk
• Students create an investment plan based on personal financial goals and risk tolerance

 

Unit 7: Insurance

Learning Targets

• Students identify common types of insurance, such as health, auto, and homeowner's insurance
• Students explain the purpose of insurance and how it provides financial protection
• Students evaluate insurance policies and coverage options to make informed choices
• Students identify the importance of health insurance and how to select a plan

 

Unit 8: Retirement & Estate Planning

Learning Targets

• Students describe the importance of retirement planning and the power of compounding
• Students evaluate different retirement savings options, including 401(k)s and IRAs
• Students explain the basics of estate planning, wills, and trusts
• Students develop a retirement savings strategy based on retirement goals and timeline.

 

Unit 9: Consumer Skills

Learning Targets

• Students explore consumer rights and responsibilities when making purchases
• Students identify common scams and frauds and how to protect against them
• Students evaluate advertising and marketing techniques to make informed purchasing decisions
• Students develop effective negotiation and consumer advocacy skills

 

Unit 10: Financial Planning

Learning Targets

• Students synthesize knowledge from previous modules to create a comprehensive financial plan
• Students set short-term and long-term financial goals and develop a plan to achieve them
• Students continuously evaluate and adjust financial plans as circumstances change
• Students justify the importance of lifelong financial learning and responsible financial behavior

Unit 1: Current Issues

Learning Targets

• Students discern, evaluate, and select intricate topics related to government or the United States that intrigue our class for thorough discussion and analysis

• Students construct and articulate well-founded positions, craft compelling, nuanced arguments, and persuasively advocate for them during rigorous classroom debates, incorporating diverse perspectives

• Students conduct comprehensive research, delving into the historical, social, and political contexts of chosen topics, and adeptly employ diverse resources to substantiate my viewpoints effectively

• Students critically assess the credibility, bias, and reliability of various research sources, synthesize information into a coherent perspective, and proficiently engage in substantive discourse by critiquing the arguments presented by my peers

 

Unit 2: Political Parties & Ideologies

Learning Targets

• Students analyze and differentiate between the major political parties in the United States, discerning their core beliefs, values, and policy positions, while critically evaluating how these align or diverge from my own political ideology

• Students evaluate the influence of public opinion, interest groups, and the media on shaping political ideologies, illustrating how these factors impact voter behavior, political party platforms, and the overall political landscape

• Students ​​​​​​​synthesize my understanding of political parties, ideologies, and the political spectrum to construct an informed perspective on contemporary political issues, engaging in thoughtful discussions and debates that consider multiple viewpoints and perspectives

Unit 3: Fundamentals of Democracy & Citizenship

Learning Targets

• Students define democracy and identify different forms of democratic government, including direct and representative democracy, while evaluating their advantages and disadvantages

• Students compare and contrast various types of government systems, both historical and contemporary, such as autocracy, oligarchy, and totalitarianism, highlighting key differences and their impact on individual rights and freedoms

• Students explore the concept of citizenship and its responsibilities, including civic participation, obeying laws, and contributing to the betterment of the community, while reflecting on the qualities and behaviors of an informed and engaged citizen

 

Unit 4: Political Participation & Elections

Learning Targets

• Students explain the mechanics of elections, including the electoral process, voter registration, primary and general elections, and the roles of candidates, political parties, and electoral bodies in the United States

• Students ​​​​​​​analyze the factors that influence political participation and voter behavior, such as demographics, political ideologies, civic engagement, and the impact of media and campaign strategies, to better understand why some individuals choose to vote while others do not

• Students ​​​​​​​ differentiate between presidential, midterm, and local elections, highlighting their significance, timing, and the issues that typically dominate these elections, while also evaluating their impact on government representation and policymaking

Unit 5: Foundations of American Government

Learning Targets

• Students identify key founding fathers and their contributions to the formation of the United States, including their roles in drafting important documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

• Students analyze the core principles and philosophies that influenced the framers of the Constitution, such as republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances, and explain how these principles continue to shape the structure of the American government today

• Students evaluate the enduring relevance of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in contemporary American society, examining how these foundational documents protect individual rights, promote civic participation, and serve as a framework for governance in the modern era

 

Unit 6: The Branches of Government

Learning Targets

• Students distinguish between the three branches of the U.S. government – legislative, executive, and judicial – by describing their respective roles, functions, and responsibilities

• Students simulate and analyze real-world scenarios that illustrate how each branch of government operates, including the enactment of laws by Congress, the execution of policies by the President, and the interpretation of laws by the judiciary

• Students examine key historical events and developments within the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch, highlighting their significance in shaping American governance and society

• Students demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the legislative process in the United States by explaining the steps involved in lawmaking, from the introduction of a bill to its final approval, and by participating in a class activity that simulates the legislative process

 

Unit 7: Civil Liberties & Rights

Learning Targets

• Students analyze the significance and historical context of the Bill of Rights, identifying specific amendments and their impact on individual rights and liberties in the United States

• Students describe the process of amending the U.S. Constitution, including the proposal and ratification stages, and evaluate the reasons for and implications of adding amendments throughout history

• Students engage in discussions and debates about contemporary issues related to individual rights, considering different perspectives, historical precedents, and legal interpretations, and formulate reasoned arguments on the relevance of rights in modern society

Unit 8: Local & State Government/Student Participation

Learning Targets

• Students explain the structure and functions of local and state governments in the United States, identifying key officials and their roles, as well as understanding the distribution of powers between these levels of government

• Students actively engage in the democratic process at the local and state levels by researching, discussing, and participating in activities that address community issues and policies, demonstrating the importance of informed citizenship

• Students analyze the impact of local and state government decisions on my daily life, evaluating the effectiveness of policies, identifying areas for improvement, and proposing potential solutions through civic participation and advocacy

Unit 1: Current Issues

Learning Targets

• Students research and formulate positions on local, state, and national issues or policies to participate in a civil society
• Students engage in civil discourse, including discussing current issues, advocating for individual or group rights, civic duty, and civic participation
• Students conduct research by gathering, organizing, and evaluating the credibility and bias of information from a variety of online, print, and non-print sources
• Students demonstrate ability to use 21st century media as a tool for civic participation
  
   

Unit 2: American Political Ideologies & Beliefs

Learning Targets

• Students explain the relationship between core beliefs of U.S. citizens and attitudes about the role of government

• Students explain how cultural factors influence political attitudes and socialization

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how social factors impact political ideology

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how major political events influence political ideology

• Students ​​​​​​​describe the elements of a scientific poll

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the quality and credibility of claims based on public opinion data

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how ideologies of the two major parties shape policy debates

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how U.S. political culture (e.g., democratic ideals, principles, and core values) influences the formation, goals, and implementation of public policy over time

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how different political ideologies affect the role of government in regulating the marketplace

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how fiscal and monetary policy actions influence economic conditions

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how political ideologies vary on the role of the government in addressing social issues

Unit 3: Political Participation

Learning Targets

• Students describe the voting rights protections in the Constitution and in legislation

• Students describe different models of voting behavior

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the roles that individual choice and state laws play in voter turnout in elections

• Students ​​​​​​​describe linkage institutions

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the function and impact of political parties on the electorate and government

• Students ​​​​​​​explain why and how political parties change and adapt

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how structural barriers affect third-party and independent candidate success

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policy making

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how variation in types of interest groups and the resources interest groups possess affects their ability to influence elections and policy making

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how various political actors influence public policy outcomes

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the different processes work in a U.S. presidential election

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the Electoral College affects U.S. presidential elections

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the different processes work in U.S. congressional elections

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how campaign organizations and strategies affect the election process

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the organization, finance, and strategies of national political campaigns affect the election process

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the media’s role as a linkage institution

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how increasingly diverse choices of media and communication outlets influence political institutions and behavior​​​​​​​

Unit 4: Foundations of American Democracy

Learning Targets

• Students explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

• Students explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S.

• Students explain Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy

• Students explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater power formerly reserved to the states

• Students explain the impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the constitutional principles of separation of powers and checks and balances

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the effects of separation of powers and checks and balances for the U.S. political system

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the constitutional allocation of power between the national and state government affects society

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the balance of power between national and state governments has changed over time based on interpretations of the Supreme Court of the United States

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the distribution of powers between national and state governments impacts policy making

 

Unit 5: Interactions Among Branches of Government

Learning Targets

• Students describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

• Students explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policymaking process

• Students explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government

• Students explain how the president can implement a policy agenda

• Students explain how the president’s agenda can create tension and frequent confrontations with Congress

• Students explain how presidents have interpreted and justified their use of formal and informal powers

• Students explain how communication technology has changed the president’s relationship with the national constituency and the other branches

• Students explain the principle of judicial review and how it checks the power of other branches

• Students explain the role of legal precedent in judicial decision making

• Students explain how life tenure can lead to debate about the Supreme Court’s power

• Students explain how the exercise of judicial review can lead to debate about the Supreme Court’s power

• Students explain how other branches in the government can limit the Supreme Court’s power

• Students explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government

• Students explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation

• Students explain how Congress uses its oversight power in its relationship with the executive branch

• Students explain how the president ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities in concert with the goals of the administration

• Students explain the extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable given the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts

• Students explain how the distribution of powers among the three branches of government impacts policymaking

Unit 6: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

Learning Targets

• Students explain how the U.S. Constitution protects individual liberties and rights

• Students describe the rights protected in the Bill of Rights

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the extent to which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment reflects a commitment to religious liberty

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the extent to which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment reflects a commitment to free speech

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the extent to which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment reflects a commitment to individual liberty

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the extent to which the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment reflects a commitment to individual liberty

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the Supreme Court has attempted to balance claims of individual freedom with laws and enforcement procedures that promote public order and safety

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the implications of the doctrine of selective incorporation

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the extent to which the government is limited by procedural due process from infringing upon individual rights

• Students ​​​​​​​explain the extent to which the government is limited by substantive due process from infringing upon individual rights

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how constitutional provisions have supported and motivated social movements

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the government has responded to social movements

• Students ​​​​​​​explain how the Court has at times allowed the restriction of the civil rights of minority groups and at other times has protected those rights

• Students ​​​​​​​describe Supreme Court debates about affirmative action policies