civics

civics

  • Why the U.S. is often called a “nation of immigrants”?

  • Memory terms and what they stand for: Span-DAfEF-NoWE-SEE FEMEALs (represents the order of immigrants groups to the U.S., with FEMEALs standing for the top three today.

  • Memory term “DERC” helps us remember three ways we are Diverse: Ethnically, Religiously, Culturally 

  • Know some changes we’ve seen in our population over time, such as urban growth, more “white collar” (office and services) work, more education, movement of population to the South and West, longer life span, more opportunities for women and minority groups.

  • Several key principles (core beliefs) we have as Americans, like: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, equality, justice, individual rights, etc. and the values (what’s important) we have determine how our institutions (sets of relationships with others) are set up and how we behave.

  • Memory term for five institutions: “Fred Sog” – family, religious, educational, social, and governmental

These relationships form the foundation of our society.


Lesson 2 (See graphic organizer and T-chart notes; also on Knowt as “Imported Note”):


  • Two pathways to citizenship: birth and naturalization.  Know the two “by birth (birthright)” possibilities.

  • Naturalization process – Memory Term:  DRATO Know the five steps this represents.

  • Know at least one way you can lose citizenship (we learned three). What you’re called if you’re not a citizen?

  • Aliens – legal vs. illegal; What’s a visa? How’s it different from a passport? What is it to be deported?  What are legal aliens allowed to do?  What can’t they do?  What are refugees as a special category of alien?


Lesson 3: (See notes sheet; also available on Knowt):

  • Duties vs. responsibilities → What is the difference between the two?

  • Know five legal duties (Memory Tool: OPADS). For specifics, know minimum legal ages for school, the way “defending the nation” is a legal duty though we have a volunteer military, the two ways we may hagve to serve in court.

  • Know the four responsibilities (Memory Tool: Besuv Retcon)


Lesson 4 (See notes sheet; also available on Knowt):


  • The four functions of government – (Memory Tool: SLOPP)  -- know four categories with examples.

  • Levels of government in the U.S. – National (federal), State, and Local (includes county).  Where is each one's headquarters?                    

  • Types of governments discussed:   

      Democratic (direct vs. representative vs. constitutional monarchy)

Direct democracy -- people participate directly in decision making, though not practical today.

Representative democracy -- with people electing a smaller group of people to do lawmaking; often has a president as head of state.

Constitutional monarchy (ex: Great Britain) is another type of democratic government – king or queen with no real governing power; elected lawmakers who choose a head of government, usually a prime minister.

Principles: rule of law is highest ideal (Constitution is highest law) with consent of the governed as expressed in free and fair elections with voting that results in majority rule.

Three “authoritarian” government types: absolute monarchy (think “Queen of Hearts” from Alice in Wonderland), dictatorship, totalitarianism (extreme form of dictatorship).  How are these different from democracies?