Acellus US Government
Scope and Sequence

Unit 1 – Foundations of Government- This unit explains unlimited and limited
government, as well as the political theories of Hobbes and Locke, and Rousseau
and Montesquieu.

Unit 2 – Underpinnings of the Constitution- This unit explores the English
documents that shaped the U.S. Constitution, the French and Indian War, British
acts towards the Colonists in America, and how the Colonists reacted. It
discusses the events of April 19, 1775 that came to be know as "The Shot Heard
Round the World”, and provides an analysis of the Declaration of Independence.

Unit 3 – Formation of the Constitution- This unit discusses the early Articles of
Confederation, their structure, weakness, and eventual downfall. It discusses
Shay’s Rebellion, compromises at the Constitutional Convention, Federalists and
anti-Federalists, and the Federalist Papers written to promote the ratification of
the United States Constitution.

Unit 4 – Overview of the Constitution- This unit discusses the value of studying
the constitution and the major principals contained in it. The unit also explores
the five articles of the Constitution, including the Legislative, Executive, and
Judicial Branches, relations among the States, and the amendment process.

Unit 5 – Checks and Balances- This unit examines the different branches of
government and how a Bill becomes a Law. It discusses the qualifications of
Congress and of the Executive and Judicial Branches, as well as the impeachment
process, the Electoral College, leadership positions in Congress and Presidential
Succession. This unit is followed by the Mid-Term Review and Exam.

Unit 6 – Federalism- This unit provides an analysis of Federalism, the Supremacy
Clause in Article 6, and how State and Local Government are structured.

Unit 7 – Bill of Rights and Amendments- This unit provides an overview of the
Bill of Rights, then offers in-depth examination of the Bill of Rights one through
ten, followed by the First Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, Amendments 11
through 20, and Amendments 21 through 27.

Unit 8 – Supreme Court Cases- In this unit, examples of Supreme Court cases are
presented as evidence of the laws of the land in process. Supreme Court cases
include, New Jersey versus TLO, Plessy versus Ferguson, Brown versus the Board
of Education, Gideon versus Wainwright, and Miranda versus Arizona.

Unit 9 – Political Participation, Political Parties, and the Election Process-This
unit discusses political bias, responsibilities and participation, expansion of
voter’s rights, the purpose and functions of parties, and the significance of third
parties. Also discussed is the order of electing a President, the impact of media
on elections, and media during the Internet Age.

Unit 10 – Democracy and Civics- This unit discusses the role of public opinion,
domestic and foreign policy, and funding public policy with taxes. It discusses
new democracies in the world, theories of democracy, and democracy in
America. This unit also explores Human and Constitutional rights, Personal
Interest Groups, and Civil Liberties and Rights in the United States. It discusses
how to register to vote, how to run for public office, active Citizenship, and how
to become a Citizen of the United States
Unit 1 – Foundations of Government
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pre-Test
Introduction
Type of Rules
Unlimited and Limited Governments
5. Hobbes and Locke
6. Rousseau and Montesquieu
7. Review
8. Unit 1 Test
Unit 2 – Underpinnings of the Constitution
1. English Documents that Helped Shape
America
2. French and Indian War
3. British Acts Towards Colonists
4. Colonists Reaction to British Rule
5. April 19, 1775
6. Reasons for the Declaration of
Independence
7. Why Write the Declaration of
Independence?
8. What Does the Declaration Independence
Say?
9. Unit 2 Review
10. Unit 2 Test
Unit 3 – Formation of the Constitution1. Structure of the Articles of
Confederation
2. Weakness of the Articles of
Confederation
3. The Downfall of the Articles of
Confederation
4. Shays’ Rebellion
5. Compromises of the New
Government
6. Federalists vs. Antifederalists
7. The Federalists Papers
8. Unit 3 Review
9. Unit 3 Test
Unit 4 – Overview of the Constitution1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Why Study the Constitution?
Major Principles of the Constitution
Article 1- Legislative Branch
Article 2- Executive Branch
Article 3- Judicial Branch
6.
7.
8.
9.
Article 4- Relations Among the States
Article 5- Amendment Process
Unit 4 Review
Unit 4 Test
Unit 5 – Checks and Balances1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Branches of Government
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Qualifications of Congress
Qualifications of Executive and Judicial
Impeachment Process
Electoral College- Part I
7. Electoral College – Part II
8. Leadership Positions in Congress
9. Presidential Sucession
10. Midterm Review
11. Midterm Test
Unit 6 – Federalism1. Overview of Federalism
2. Supremacy Clause- Article 6
3. Structure of State Government
4, Structure of Local Government
5, Unit 6 Review
6, Unit 6 Test
Unit 7 – Bill of Rights and Amendments1.
2.
3.
4.
Bill of Rights 1-10
First Amendment
Fourth Amendment
11-20 Amendments
5. 21-27 Amendments
6. Unit 7 Review
7. Unit 7 Test
Unit 8 – Supreme Court Cases1.
2.
3.
4.
New Jersey vs TLO
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Brown vs. Board of Education
Gideon vs. Wainwright
5. Miranda vs Arizona
6. Unit 8 Review
7. Unit 8 Test
Unit 9 – Political Participation, Political Parties, and the Election Process1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What’s Your Political Bias
Responsibilities and Participation
Expansion of Voter’s Right
Purpose and Functions of Parties
Significance of Third Parties
Rights and Obligations as Democratic
Citizens
7. Order of Electing a President
8. Impact Media Plays on Elections
9. Voter Turnout
10. Media During the Internet Age
11. Unit 9 Review
12. Unit 9 Test
Unit 10 – Democracy and Civics1. Role of Public Opinion
2. Domestic and Foreign Policy
3. Theories of Democracy
10. How do People challenge the
government?
11. Civil Liberties and Rights in the US
12. How Do I Register to Vote?
4. American Participation in Democracy
13. How Do I Run for Public Office?
5. Active Participation in Democracy
6. Market Economy and Democracy
14. Active Citizenship
15. How Do I Become a Citizen of the United
States?
7. Human Rights and Constitutional Rights
8. Personal Interests Groups
9. Systems Which Support Civic Virtues