Government and Civics Course Content and Standards Outline

Course Overview and Civic Engagement Principles

• This course focuses on the processes of the American government and its relationship to the community. It is designed to prepare students for active civic engagement and democratic citizenship.

• Curriculum focus areas include the branches of government, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, separation of powers, and the fundamental beliefs underlying a democratic society.

• Students develop critical thinking skills through research, group discussion, debate, deliberation, and simulations to address social, economic, political, and international issues.

• Areas of study encompass modern political and economic systems, civil rights, voter behavior, the electoral process, foreign affairs, national security, the three branches of American government, and the Illinois Constitution and local government.

• Civic Skills and Standards:

  • $SS.9-12.CV.1$: Distinguishing between the rights, roles, powers, and responsibilities of individuals and institutions; analyzing the marginalization of multiple groups and perspectives.

  • $SS.9-12.CV.4$: Evaluating the Constitution’s capacity to establish a system of government with limits and explaining its evolution and ongoing debates.

  • $SS.9-12.CV.7$: Comparing and contrasting democratic concepts and principles inherent to the $U.S.$ system of government.

  • $SS.9-12.CV.3$: Analyzing laws, constitutions, and agreements to determine their achievement of justice, equality, and liberty.

  • Student assessment methods include traditional unit exams, quizzes, Structured Academic Conversations (SAC), and simulations.

Unit $I$: Foundations of American Government and Democracy

• The Purposes of Government: Defined by the Preamble, there are $6$ specific purposes of government. The role of government in an individual's life is determined by their unique beliefs regarding freedom, order, and equality.

• Theories of Government Origin:

  • Evolutionary Theory: Suggests the state evolved from the family structure.

  • Force Theory: Proposes that government emerged when one person or group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit.

  • Divine Right Theory: Asserts that God created the state and gave those of royal birth a "divine right" to rule.

  • Social Contract Theory: Grounded in the works of political philosophers, this theory argues that government is a voluntary act of free people to provide safety and order. This theory heavily influenced the Founding Fathers when creating the Declaration of Independence and the United States government.

• Concepts and Principles:

  • $5$ Basic Concepts of Democracy: These concepts are analyzed to understand how they interact to maintain and preserve the social contract.

  • $6$ Principles of the Constitution: These serve as the framework to uphold the social contract and define the relationship between the government and the governed ($SS.9-12.CV.5$).

Unit $II$: The American Political Process: Ideology, Political Parties, and Elections

• Political Ideology and Systems: The American political spectrum and major parties are influenced by the principles of Communism, Socialism, Capitalism, and Fascism.

• Political Parties: Parties perform specific functions in the United States, including influencing the political process and reflecting social and political interests ($SS.9-12.CV.6$).

• Voter Behavior ($SS.9-12.CV.2$):

  • Analysis of political, economic, and social factors that influence voter participation and voting trends.

  • Evaluation of the impact of disenfranchisement on the electoral process and the limitations of participation in elections.

• The Election Cycle:

  • The process moves from primaries and caucuses to general elections.

  • The Electoral College is a central component of the election cycle.

  • The electoral process is designed to reflect democratic principles and social contract theory, defining how individuals function within these systems.

Unit $III$: The Legislative Branch

• Structure of Congress: Formed under Article $I$ of the Constitution, the structure and organization of Congress are intended to reflect the democratic ideals of the social contract.

• The Committee System: A critical organizational component of Congress that facilitates lawmaking and civic participation.

• The Lawmaking Process ($SS.9-12.CV.10$):

  • Procedures are used to make the lawmaking process deliberative.

  • Legislation seeks to reflect the needs of the majority while protecting the rights of the minority through compromise.

  • Public policies are evaluated based on intended outcomes, unintended consequences, and their impact on marginalized communities ($SS.9-12.CV.9$).

• State Government (Illinois General Assembly):

  • The Illinois General Assembly is structured similarly to the $U.S.$ Congress.

  • It is specifically designed to reflect the unique needs and concerns of the people of Illinois.

Unit $IV$: Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, and the Judicial Branch

• Federal Judiciary: Established under Article $III$, Section $I$ of the Constitution. This includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

• Judicial Review: The power of the courts to examine the actions of the legislative and executive branches to ensure they align with the Constitution.

• Rights and Liberties:

  • The Bill of Rights and Civil Rights serve to balance individual liberties with the necessity for social order and the common good.

  • The Constitution provides multiple pathways for citizens to participate in and influence their government ($SS.9-12.CV.8$).

• Illinois Judicial Branch: While formed to reflect the principles of the United States Constitution, it is tailored to the specific needs and legal concerns of Illinois residents.

Unit $V$: The Executive Branch

• Executive Powers: The Constitution grants specific roles and powers to the executive branch, which are balanced against the powers of the legislative and judicial branches.

• Illinois Executive Branch: Mirrors the federal executive structure in principle while focusing on the administration of state-specific interests and populations.

Unit $VI$: American Foreign Policy

• Foreign Policy Components: An effective foreign policy requires specific ideals, tools, and an understanding of different types of interests.

• Organski’s Power Framework: A model used to understand how nations leverage power to achieve goals. It distinguishes between:

  • Hard Power: Direct, often coercive methods of influence.

  • Soft Power: Indirect, persuasive methods of influence based on culture, values, and diplomacy.

• Decision Making: Countries select foreign policy tools and ideals based on their specific global or regional concerns ($SS.IS.11.9-12$). This process involves anticipating outcomes for all impacted communities, particularly those that are marginalized.