Academic Standards for Civics and Government

 

5.1.  Principles and Documents of Government

5.1.3.  Grade 3

5.1.6.  Grade 6

5.1.9.  Grade 9

5.1.12.  Grade 12

Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire the and skills needed to…

A.  Describe what government is.

 

 

B.  Explain the purposes of rules and laws and why they are important in the classroom, school, community, state and nation.

 

 

 

C.  Define the principles and ideals shaping government.

·          Justice

·          Truth

·          Diversity of people and ideas

·          Patriotism

·          Common Good

·          Liberty

·          Rule of law

·          Leadership

·          Citizenship

 

D.  Identify the document which created Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.  Identify documents of United States government.

·          Declaration of Independence

·          Constitution of the United States

·          Bill of Rights

 

 

 

 

F.  Explain the meaning of the preamble.

·          Constitution of the United States

·          Pennsylvania Constitution

 

 

G.  Describe the purpose of the United States Flag, The Pledge of Allegiance and The National Anthem.

 

 

 

H.  Identify a framer of the early documents of governments.

·          Pennsylvania

·          United States

 

I.  Explain why government is necessary in the classroom, school, community, state and nation and the basic purposes of government in Pennsylvania and the United States.

 

 

 

 

J.  Explain the importance of respect for the property and the opinions of others.

 

 

K.  Identify symbols and political holidays.

·          Pennsylvania (e.g., Charter Day, Liberty Bell, Keystone State)

·          United States (e.g., Presidents’ Day, Statue of Liberty, White House)

 

L.  Identify the purpose of courts and explain how they resolve conflicts over the principles and ideals of government.

 

 

 

M.  Identify portions of famous speeches and writings that reflect the basic principles and ideals of government (e.g., “I have a dream,” Reverend Martin Luther King; “One small step for man” Neil Armstrong).

A.  Explain the purpose of government.

 

 

B.  Explain the importance of the rule of law for the protection of individual rights and the common good in the community, state, nation and world.

 

 

C.  Describe the principles and ideals shaping government.

·            Equality

·            Majority rule/Minority rights

·            Popular sovereignty

·            Privacy

·            Checks and balances

·            Separation of powers

 

 

 

 

D.  Explain the basic principles and ideals within documents of Pennsylvania government.

·            Charter of 1681

·            Charter of Privileges

·            Pennsylvania Constitution

·            Pennsylvania Declaration of Rights

 

 

 

 

E.  Explain the basic principles and ideals within documents of the United States government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F.  Explain the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and compare to the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States

 

G.  Describe the proper use, display and respect for the United State Flag and explain the significance of patriotic activities.

·          Reciting The Pledge of Alliance

·          Standing for The National Anthem

 

H.  Describe the roles played by the framers of the basic documents of governments of Pennsylvania and the United States.

 

 

I.  Describe and compare the making of rules by direct democracy and by a republican form of government.

 

 

 

 

 

J.  Describe how the government protects individual rights and promotes the common good.

 

K.  Describe the purpose of symbols and holidays.

 

 

 

 

L.  Explain the role of courts in resolving conflicts over the principles and ideals of government.

·          Local

·          State

·          Federal

 

M.  Explain the basic principles and ideals found in famous speeches and writings (e.g., “Governments, like clocks, go from the motion people give them,” William Penn; “A date that will live in infamy,” Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A.  Identify and explain the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.

 

B.  Describe historical examples of the importance of the rule of law.

·          Sources

·          Purposes

·          Functions

 

C.  Analyze the principles and ideals that shape government.

·          Constitutional government

·          Liberal democracy

·          Classical republicanism

·          Federalism

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.  Interpret significant changes in the basic documents shaping the government of Pennsylvania.

·          The Great Law of 1682

·          Constitution of 1776

·          Constitution of 1790

·          Constitution of 1838

·          Constitution of 1874

·          Constitution of 1968

 

E.  Analyze the basic documents shaping the government of the United States.

·          Magna Carta

·          English Bill of Rights

·          Mayflower Compact

·          Articles of Confederation

·          Declaration of Independence

·          Federalist/anti-federalist Papers

 

F.  Contrast the individual rights created by the Pennsylvania Constitution and those created by the Constitution of the United States.

 

 

G.  Describe the procedures for proper uses, display and respect for the United States Flag as per the National Flag Code.

 

 

 

H.  Explain and interpret the roles of framers of basic documents of government from a national and Pennsylvania perspective.

 

 

I.  Explain the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments and explain the advantages and disadvantages of systems of government.

·          Confederal

·          Federal

·          Unitary

 

J.  Explain how law protects individual rights and the common good.

 

 

K.  Explain why symbols and holidays were created and the ideals they commemorate.

 

 

 

 

L.  Interpret Pennsylvania and United States court decisions that have impacted the principles and ideals of government.

 

 

 

M.  Interpret the impact of famous speeches and writings on civic life (e.g., The Gospel of Wealth, Declaration of Sentiments).

A.  Evaluate the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government.

 

B.  Analyze the sources, purposes and functions of law.

 

 

 

 

C.  Evaluate the importance of the principles and ideals in civic life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D.  Analyze the principles and ideals that shape the government of Pennsylvania and apply them to the government.

·            The Charter of 1681

·            Charter of Privileges

·            PA Constitution, it’s revisions and

          Amendments

 

 

 

E.  Evaluate the principles and ideals that shape the United States and apply them to its documents of government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

F.  Analyze and assess the rights of the people as listed in the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Constitution of the United States.

 

 

G.  Analyze and interpret the role of the United States Flag in civil disobedience and in patriotic activities.

 

 

 

H.  Analyze the competing positions held by the framers of the basic documents of government of Pennsylvania and United States.

 

I.  Analyze historical examples of the importance of the rule of law and of the sources, purposes and functions of law.

 

 

 

 

 

J.  Analyze how the law promotes the common good by protecting individual rights.

 

 

K.  Analyze the roles of symbols and holidays in society.

 

 

 

 

L.  Analyze Pennsylvania and United States court decisions that have effected principles and ideals of government in civic life.

 

 

 

M.  Evaluate and analyze the importance of significant political speeches and writings in civic life (e.g., Diary of Anne Frank, Silent Spring).


Proposed Academic Standards for Civics and Government

 

5.2.  Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

5.2.3.  Grade 3

5.2.6.  Grade 6

5.2.9.  Grade 9

5.2.12.  Grade 12

Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire the and skills needed to…

A.  Identify examples of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

·          Personal rights

·          Political rights

·          Economic rights

·          Personal responsibilities

·          Civic responsibilities

 

 

 

 

B.  Identify personal rights and responsibilities.

 

 

C.  Identify sources of conflict and disagreement and different ways conflicts can be resolved.

 

D.  Identify the importance of political leadership and public service in the school, community, state and nation.

 

E.  Describe ways citizens can influence the decisions and actions of government.

 

 

 

F.  Explain the benefits of following rules and laws and the consequences of violating them.

 

 

G.  Identify ways to participate in government and civic life.

A.  Compare rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

·          Political rights

·          Economic rights

·          Personal responsibilities to the individual and to society

·          Civic responsibilities to the individual and to society

·          Traits of character to individuals and to constitutional democracy

 

B.  Explain the relationship between rights and responsibilities.

 

C.  Explain ways citizens resolve conflicts in society and government.

 

D.  Describe the importance of political leadership and public service.

 

 

E.  Identify examples of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

 

 

 

F.  Describe the impact of the consequences of violating rules and laws in a civil society.

 

 

G.  Explain the importance of participating in government and civic life.

A.  Contrast the essential rights and responsibilities of citizens in systems of government.

·          Autocracy

·          Democracy

·          Oligarchy

·          Republic

 

 

 

 

B.  Analyze citizens’ rights and responsibilities in local, state and national government.

 

C.  Analyze skills used to resolve conflicts in society and government.

 

D.  Analyze political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.

 

 

E.  Explain the importance of political process to competent and responsible participation in civic life.

 

 

F.  Analyze the consequences of violating laws of Pennsylvania compared to those of the United States.

 

G.  Analyze political and civic participation in government and society.

A.  Evaluate an individual’s civic rights, responsibilities and duties in various of governments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.  Evaluate citizens’ participation in government and civic life.

 

C.  Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts.

 

D.  Evaluate political leadership and public service in a republican form of government.

 

 

E.  Analyze how participating in civic and political life leads to the attainment of individual and public goals.

 

 

F.  Evaluate how individual rights may conflict with or support the common good.

 

 

G.  Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen.

 


Proposed Academic Standards for Civics and Government

 

5.3  How Government Works

5.3.3.  Grade 3

5.3.6.  Grade 6

5.3.9.  Grade 9

5.3.12.  Grade 12

Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum potential and to acquire the and skills needed to…

A.  Identify the elected representative bodies responsible for making local, Pennsylvania and United States laws.

 

 

B.  Identify the role of the three branches of government.

·          Executive

·          Legislative

·          Judicial

 

C.  Identify reasons for rules and laws in the school and community.

 

 

D.  Identify services performed by the local, state and national governments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.  Identify positions of authority at school and in local, state and national governments.

 

 

 

F.  Explain what an election is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

G.  Explain why being treated fairly is important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H.  Identify individual interests and explain ways to influence others.

 

 

I.  Explain why taxes are necessary and identify who pays them.

 

 

J.  Identify the role of the media in society.

 

 

 

K.  Identify different ways people govern themselves.

A.  Compare the structure, organization and operation of the local, state and national governments.

 

 

B.  Describe the responsibilities and powers of the three branches of government.

 

 

 

 

C.  Explain how government actions affect citizens’ daily lives.

 

 

D.  Describe how local, state and national governments implement their services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E.  Identify major leaders of local, state and national governments, their primary duties and their political party affiliation.

 

 

F.  Describe the voting process.

·            Pennsylvania

·            United States

 

 

 

 

 

G.  Describe how the government protects individual rights.

·          Presumption of Innocence

·          Right to Counsel

·          Trial by Jury

·          Bill of Rights

 

 

H.  Identify individual interests and how they impact government.

 

 

I.  Describe why and how government raises money to pay for its operations and services.

 

 

J.