The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of governmental systems of the United States and other nations with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, the necessity for the rule of law, the civic values of the American republican government, and the rights, privileges, and responsibilities to become active participants in the democratic process.
Benchmark 1
The student understands the rule of law as it applies to family, school, local, state and national governments.
Indicator 1
The student evaluates the purpose and function of law.
Indicator 2
The student analyzes how the rule of law can be used to restrict the action of private citizens and government officials in order to protect the rights of individuals and to promote the common good (i.e., eminent domain, martial law during disasters, health and safety issues).
Indicator 3
The student explains the meaning of the terms civic life, politics, and governments.
Indicator 4
The student explains when individual political and economic freedoms can be sacrificed for the public well-being (e.g., eminent domain, martial law during disasters, health and safety issues).
Benchmark 2
The student understands the shared ideals and the diversity of American society and political culture.
Indicator 1
The student recognizes that a nation's values are embodied in its constitution, statutes, and important court cases (i.e., Dred Scott v. Sanford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Topeka Board of Education).
Indicator 2
The student describes how citizens' responsibilities require subordination of their personal rights and interests for the public good (e.g., justice, fairness, equity).
Indicator 3
The student knows core civic values inherent in the founding documents that have been the focus for unity in American society (i.e., free speech, religion, press, assembly, and other basic civil rights).
Indicator 4
The student explains the importance of shared political and civic values and beliefs to the maintenance of a government by constitution in a diverse American society (i.e., freedoms and responsibilities within the Bill of Rights, civil rights amendments and other documents related to our government by constitution).
Indicator 5
The student explains the meaning of citizenship in the United States.
Benchmark 3
The student understands how the U.S. Constitution allocates and restricts power and responsibility in the government.
Indicator 1
The student describes the purposes, organization, and function of the three branches of government and independent regulatory agencies in relation to the U.S. Constitution.
Indicator 2
The student compares and contrasts the relationship between federalism and states'' rights.
Indicator 3
The student explains the central idea that the written Constitution sets forth the organization creating a republican form of government.
Indicator 4
The student explains the role the U.S. government plays in formulating economic and foreign policy.
Benchmark 4
The student identifies and examines the rights, privileges, and responsibilities in becoming an active civic participant.
Indicator 1
The student explains the role of political parties in channeling public opinion, allowing people to act jointly, nominating candidates, conducting campaigns, and training future leaders.
Indicator 2
The student explains how public policy is formed and carried out at local, state, and national levels and what roles individuals can play in the process.
Indicator 3
The student analyzes policies, actions, and issues regarding the rights of individuals (e.g., Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education, American Disabilities Act, Title 9, PL94142).
Indicator 4
The student examines issues regarding political rights (e.g., to be an informed voter, participant in the political process).
Indicator 5
The student analyzes issues regarding economic rights within the United States i.e., free enterprise, rights of choice, government regulation).
Indicator 6
The student takes and defends a position on issues regarding the proper scope and limits of rights, and the criteria used to set those rights, including compelling national interests, public safety and the rights of others (e.g., eminent domain, clear and present danger, national security risk).
Indicator 7
The student defines issues regarding civic responsibilities of citizens in the American constitutional government (e.g., obeying the law, paying taxes, voting, jury duty, serving our country, involved in the political process).
Indicator 8
The student evaluates, takes, and defends positions about the roles of interest groups, voluntary associations, and other groups in American politics and the consequences of conflict among these groups in the promotion and implementation of public policy.
Benchmark 5
The student understands various systems of governments and how nations and international organizations interact.
Indicator 1
The student evaluates, takes, and defends differing positions on issues regarding the proper relationships among national, state, and local governments.
The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of major economic concepts, issues, and systems of the United States and other nations; and applies decision making skills as a consumer, producer, saver, investor, and citizen in an interdependent world.
Benchmark 1
The student analyzes the role of the government in the economy.
Indicator 1
The student explains why certain goods and services are provided by the government (e.g., infrastructure, schools, waste management, national defense).
Indicator 2
The student evaluates the relationship between the Federal budget and the national debt (e.g., deficits, surpluses).
Standard 3 U.S. History Standard:
The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of significant individuals, groups, ideas, events, eras, and developments in the history of Kansas, the United States, and the world, utilizing essential analytical and research skills.
Benchmark 1
The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of individuals, groups ideas, developments, and turning points in the exploration, colonization, and settlement of the United States to 1763.
Indicator 1
The student analyzes political factors that contributed to the development of representative government.
Trace the influence of Greek, Roman, and English governmental systems to show their impact on the development of representational government.
Benchmark 2
The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of individuals, groups ideas, developments, and turning points in the American Revolution and the United States becoming a nation (1763 to 1850).
Indicator 1
The student describes how the principles of the Declaration of Independence justified American independence
Analyze the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and show how the application of concepts from these documents have changed over the last 200 years. (1, 5).
Indicator 2
The student analyzes the ideas established by the Constitution, and events that led to its adoption including the arguments advanced in the Federalist Papers.
Study and respond to the arguments of Anti-Federalists, using the experience of the last 200 years. Were they justified in their concerns? (4).
Indicator 3
The student explains the Bill of Rights and the reasons for the challenges registered against it.
Analyze the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and show how the application of concepts from these documents have changed over the last 200 years. (1, 5).
Benchmark 3
The student uses a working knowledge and understanding of individuals, groups ideas, developments, and turning points in the era of contemporary United States history (since 1945).
Indicator 1
The student evaluates significant influences in the struggle for racial and gender equity and for the extension of civil rights (e.g., legislation, court decisions, individuals, subculture, employment, education).
Analyze the expansion of Civil Rights from 1776 to the present. (9)
Benchmark 4
The student engages in historical thinking skills.
Indicator 1
The student analyzes historical materials to trace development of an idea or trend across space or over a prolonged period of time in United States history to explain patterns of historical continuity and change.
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