Student Name:
School Year:
Principles of American Democracy and Economics
12.1
12.1.1
12.1.2
12.1.3
12.1.4
12.1.5
12.1.6
explain the principles and values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S.
Constitution and other documents of American democracy
analyze the influence of various leading political thinkers on the development of
American government
critique Alexis de Tocqueville’s writing about American democracy
explain the balance of republican and liberal ideas reflected in the U.S. Constitution,
and explain the “self-evident truths” in the Declaration of Independence
explain the Founding Fathers limits of power reflected in the Federalist Papers
describe the roles of government systems explained in the Federalists Papers, number
10, 51, and 78
understand the limits of power detailed in the Bill of Rights
12.2
take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations as
democratic citizens and the consequences
12.2.1 discuss the meaning and significance of each right guaranteed in the Bill of Rights
12.2.2 explain the importance of economic rights to the individual
12.2.3 discuss the legal obligation to obey the law, serve as a juror, and pay taxes
12.2.4 understand the obligations of civic duty
12.2.5 describe the need for balance between obligations and rights
12.2.6 explain the process of citizenship, including naturalization
12.3.0 take and defend positions on the values of principles of a civil society and the
significance to a free society
12.3.1 explain the role of a civil society in an individual’s freedom to associate for various
purposes (i.e., social, cultural, religious)
12.3.2 explain the role of a civil society in an individual’s freedom to associate with others to
bring influence on the government
12.3.3 discuss the historical role of religion and religious diversity
12.3.4 compare democratic and authoritarian governments and civil societies
12.4 analyze the roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government
12.4.1 discuss Article I of the Constitution as it relates to the legislative branch
12.4.2 explain the way the Constitution can be amended
12.4.3 identify their federal representatives in the legislative branch
12.4.4 discuss Article 2 of the Constitution as it relates to the executive branch
12.4.5 discuss Article 3 of the Constitution as it relates to the judicial branch
12.4.6 explain the process of selection and confirmation of Supreme Court justices
12.5 summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its
amendments
12.5.1 understand the changing interpretations of the Bill of Rights
12.5.2 analyze judicial activism and restraint and the effects of each policy
12.5.3 evaluate the Court’s interpretation of the Constitution in Marbury v. Madison,
McCulloch v. Maryland, and United States v. Nixon
12.5.4 explain the results of changing interpretations of civil rights in landmark cases
12.6 evaluate issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices
12.6.1 analyze the origin and development of political parties
12.6.2 discuss the history of the nomination process for presidential candidates and the
increasing importance of primaries
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12.6.3
12.6.4
12.6.5
12.6.6
evaluate the roll of polls, advertising, and campaign funding
describe the various means citizens participate in the election process
discuss the significance of direct democracy in certain states
analyze trends in voter turnout and the effects of redistricting and the function of the
Electoral College
12.7 analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, tribal, and
local governments
12.7.1 explain how conflicts between levels of government and branches of government are
resolved
12.7.2 identify the responsibilities and sources of revenue for state and local governments
12.7.3 discuss reserved and concurrent powers of state governments
12.7.4 discuss the 9th and 10th Amendments and interpretations of the federal government’s
power
12.7.5 explain how public policy is formed through government regulations and executive
orders
12.7.6 compare the processes of lawmaking at each of the three levels of government,
including the role of lobbying and the media
12.7.7 explain the federal, state and local courts and the interrelationships among them
12.7.8 explain the scope of presidential power through examination of events (i.e., Cuban
Missile Crisis, Gulf War)
12.8 take and defend positions on the influence of the media on American politics
12.8.1 discuss the significance of a free and responsible press
12.8.2 describe the role of various media as communications tools in politics
12.8.3 explain the use of media by politicians to shape public opinion
12.9 analyze the development of political systems, especially democracies, including
advances and obstacles
12.9.1 explain how different government systems influence economies, social welfare, and
human rights
12.9.2 compare shared decision making systems such as parliamentary governments and
discuss power sharing
12.9.3 discuss the advantages and disadvantages of federal, confederal and unitary systems
12.9.4 discuss the rise of tyranny during different historical periods in at least two countries
12.9.5 explain the rise of dictatorships in different countries
12.9.6 explore the causes and outcomes of major revolutions in Mexico, Central and South
America
12.9.7 describe the rise of Communism and eventual defeat in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and
Poland, including the role of individuals
12.9.8 discuss new democracies in Africa, Asia and Latin America, including successes and
failures
12.10 analyze tensions within our constitutional democracy and the importance of
maintaining a balance between majority rule and individual rights, liberty and
equality, state and federal powers, civil disobedience and rule of law, freed of the
press and the right to a fair trial, and the relationship of religion and government
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Principles of Economics
12.1
12.1.1
12.1.2
12.1.3
12.1.4
understand common economic terms and concepts, and economic reasoning
explain the relationship between scarcity and the need for choices
examine the difference between monetary and non-monetary rewards and their effects
evaluate the role of private property and conservation of natural resources
analyze the works of Adam Smith and the role of a market economy
12.2 analyze America’s market economy in a global setting
12.2.1 understand the concept of incentives to the laws of supply and demand
12.2.2 explain the effects of changes in supply and/or demand on prices, quantity and scarcity
12.2.3 examine the roles of property rights, competition, and profit
12.2.4 explain the role of prices in scarcity of good and services
12.2.5 understand the role of competition between buyers and seller in setting prices
12.2.6 describe the effect of price controls
12.2.7 analyze the effect of domestic and international competition on good and services
12.2.8 explain the significance of profit as an incentive to entrepreneurs
12.2.9 describe the functions of financial markets
12.2.10 explain the economic principles that guide the process of location of product to market
12.3 analyze the influence of the federal government on the American economy
12.3.1 understand the role of government in a market economy (i.e., defense, environment,
property rights, consumer rights)
12.3.2 explain how the costs of government actions may outweigh the benefits
12.3.3 describe government fiscal policies and their effects on production, employment, and
prices
12.3.4 understand the federal monetary policy and its effect on the economy
12.4 analyze the elements of the U.S. labor market in a global setting
12.4.1 understand the operations of the labor market, including the roll of unions, minimum
wage, and unemployment insurance
12.4.2 describe the current economy and labor market (i.e., goods and services, types of skills
needed, technological advances, international competition)
12.4.3 analyze wage difference among jobs and professions using economic laws
12.4.4 explain the effects of the international mobility of capital and labor on the U.S.
economy
12.5 analyze the aggregate economic behavior of the U.S. economy
12.5.1 explain the difference between nominal and real data
12.5.2 analyze the unemployment rate, new jobs created monthly, inflation and deflation,
and rate of economic growth
12.5.3 explain the difference between short and long term interest rates and their
significance
12.6
12.6.1
12.6.2
12.6.3
12.6.4
analyze the significance of international trade and its effect on the U.S. economy,
and the U.S. economy’s effect on the world economy
explain the gains in consumption and production efficiency from trade, especially in
the Western Hemisphere
compare the forces behind trade restrictions during the Great Depression and the
contemporary forces behind free trade and their effects on the economic and social
interests of Americans
understand the role of international political borders in a global economy
explain the elements of the foreign exchange of money
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