Social Studies: Civics and Government

  Curriculum Standard 1

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade six students will be able to:

• Describe the major things governments do in their school, community, state, and nation including making school rules; building and maintaining highways; establishing courts of law; and providing for the defense of the nation.



• Describe, by using examples, government in terms of the people and institutions that make, apply, and enforce rules and laws including the resolution of disputes about rules and laws.



• Identify and apply criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and fairness of rules and laws in the classroom, school, and community.



• Explain that the basic purposes of government in the United States are to protect the inalienable rights of individuals and to promote the common good.

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade ten students will be able to:

• Compare power and authority and explain that, in the United States, civil authority comes from custom, law, and the consent of the governed.

  Curriculum Standard 2

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade six students will be able to:

• Discuss the importance of the following ideals and principles to American democracy--individual rights and responsibilities; concern for the well-being of the community; tolerance for others; minority rights; equality of opportunity and equal protection under the law; and the importance of education, work, and volunteerism.



• Discuss the importance of the following to the creation and preservation of American constitutional democracy--the Declaration of Independence; the United States Constitution; the Bill of Rights; the Constitution of New Hampshire; and the Pledge of Allegiance.



• Explain that the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and other amendments, and the New Hampshire Constitution, including its amendments, are written documents that set forth the purposes and organization of the federal and state government.



• Describe and compare the primary functions of the three branches of government including the passing of laws by the legislative branch; the carrying out and enforcement of laws by the executive branch; and the interpretation of laws and the protection of rights by the judicial branch.



• Identify, describe, and compare the structure and major responsibilities and services of government at the local, county, state, and federal levels



• Describe how public officials are chosen and how laws and/or policies are made at the local, county, state, and federal levels.

Proficiency Standards
By the end of grade ten students will be able to:

• Describe how fundamental ideals and principles of American democracy, including popular sovereignty, rule of law, checks and balances, minority rights, civilian control of the military, separation of church and state, public or common good, and individual rights and responsibilities, are incorporated in the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.



• List the purposes of government as stated in the Preamble to the United States Constitution and explain how the Constitution gives government the power to fulfill these purposes.



• Explain how the United States Constitution is a living document by analyzing its evolution through amendments and Supreme Court interpretations and decisions.



• Describe how statements and events related to the following movements contributed to the evolution of the United States Constitution--ratification process including the Federalist Papers; states' rights; abolition; universal suffrage; prohibition; and civil rights.



• Discuss the relationship of the New Hampshire Constitution to the United States Constitution and explain that the United States Constitution is the highest law in the land and that no government can make laws that take away the rights it guarantees.



• Discuss the major responsibilities of government at the local, county, state, and federal levels; how these governments are funded; and the purposes for which funds are used.



• Describe the legislative and political processes by which a bill becomes a law or a governmental policy is established at the state and federal levels.



• Describe the organization and operation of the United States legal system including the justice system and the courts.



• Discuss how individual rights are protected in the United States legal system.



• Explain why American constitutional democracy has survived for more than 200 years and why it has become a model governmental framework.