Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
Introduction to Government ~ Students will examine the principles and nomenclature of government.
Standards
Essential
Questions
5.1.12. A-Analyze the sources, purposes, functions of law, Why is this course
and how the rule of law protects individual rights and
important to my daily
promotes the common good.
life?
5.1.12. B-Employ historical examples and political
philosophy to evaluate the major arguments advanced
for the necessity of government.
5.1.12. C-Evaluate the application of the principles and
ideals in contemporary civic life. • Liberty / Freedom •
Democracy • Justice • Equality
5.2.12.A-Evaluate an individual's civil rights,
responsibilities and obligations in various contemporary
governments.
5.2.12. B-Examine the causes of conflicts in society and
evaluate techniques to address those conflicts.
5.2.12. C-Evaluate political leadership and public service
in a republican form of government.
5.2.12. D-Evaluate and demonstrate what makes
competent and responsible citizens.
6.2.12. G-Evaluate various economic systems.
WHST.11-12.4-Produce clear and coherent writing in
which the development, organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Assessments Skills
Teacher Made Test
9/12/2014
Content
Lessons
describe why it is important to study Government
government.
Democracy
describe why we need government.
Dictatorship
compare and contrast historical
theories on the origin of
Presidential Form
government.
Parliamentary Form
compare and contrast different
economic systems of government. Federalism
Resources
Magruder’s American
Government (1992)
Prentice Hall, Needham,
MA
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
History of the Government ~ Students will examine how we created the government that we have today.
Standards
5.1.12.D-Evaluate state and federal
powers based on significant documents
and other critical sources. • Declaration
of Independence • United States
Constitution • Bill of Rights •
Pennsylvania Constitution
5.1.12.E-Analyze and assess the rights of
people as written in the PA Constitution
and the US Constitution.
Essential
Questions
What historical
events and issues
led us to create
the government
that we have
today?
Assessments Skills
Introduction to
Government
Teacher Made
Test 9/30/2014
Content
examine the political organization in the colonies prior Royal Colonies
to the American Revolution.
Charter Colonies
review the political uprisings that led to the American
Revolution.
Proprietary Colonies
compare and contrast early state governments and the Articles of
philosophical trends (e.g. popular sovereignty,
Confederation
representative democracy, religious freedom.)
Lessons Resources
The Constitution of
the United States of
America
Articles of
Confederation
Video:
Apple Computer.
Page | 1
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
RH.11-12.2-Determine the central ideas
or information of a primary or secondary
source; provide an accurate summary
that makes clear the relationships among
the key details and ideas.
RH.11-12.5-Analyze in detail how a
complex primary source is structured,
including how key sentences, paragraphs,
and larger portions of the text contribute
to the whole.
WHST.11-12.1.e-Provide a concluding
statement or section that follows from or
supports the argument presented.
Continental Congress
examine the events that led to the creation of the
Articles of Confederation.
Constitutional
Convention
Funny You Don’t Look
200: A Constitutional
Vaudeville. 1987
examine the powers given to the government under
the Articles of Confederation and analyze the strengths The Constitution
and weaknesses of the document.
analyze why the Articles of Confederation did not
work.
examine the historical events that led to the
Constitutional Convention.
identify major players at the Constitutional
Convention.
examine the major issues and compromises of the
Constitutional Convention.
discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the
Constitution.
analyze the need for Amendments to the Constitution
and discuss the political climate for their inclusion.
Executive Branch ~ Students will examine the structure and function of the Executive Branch.
Standards
Essential
Questions
Assessments Skills
5.2.12. C-Evaluate political leadership
What does the
Executive Branch
and public service in a republican form of Executive Branch Essay Questions
government.
do?
9/30/2014
5.3.12. A-Analyze the changes in power
and authority among the three branches
of government over time.
5.3.12. C-Evaluate how government
agencies create, amend, and enforce
regulations.
5.3.12. D-Evaluate the roles of political
parties, interest groups, and mass media
compare and contrast the major functions of the
Executive Branch of government.
Content
President
www.whitehouse.gov
Vice-President
Video
Running Mate
PBS 1996
identify the major players in the Executive Branch.
Cabinet
review the qualifications and terms of the major
players in the Executive Branch.
examine the salary and benefits for the major
players in the Executive Branch.
Lessons Resources
Selecting a Running
Mate
Qualifications
Page | 2
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
in politics and public policy.
5.3.12. E-Evaluate the fairness and
effectiveness of the United States
electoral processes, including the
electoral college.
Legislative Branch ~
analyze how the qualifications differ from what is
actually needed to be elected.
Students will examine the structure and function of the Legislative Branch.
Standards
Essential
Assessments Skills
Questions
5.2.12.C-Evaluate political leadership and public service What does the Legislative
in a republican form of government.
Branch do?
5.3.12. A-Analyze the changes in power and authority
among the three branches of government over time.
5.3.12. C-Evaluate how government agencies create,
amend, and enforce regulations.
5.3.12. D-Evaluate the roles of political parties, interest
groups, and mass media in politics and public policy.
5.3.12. E-Evaluate the fairness and effectiveness of the
United States electoral processes, including the electoral
college.
WHST.11-12.1.c-Use words, phrases, and clauses as
well as varied syntax to link the major sections of the
text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships
between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and
evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.
WHST.11-12.1.d-Establish and maintain a formal style
and objective tone while attending to the norms and
conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.
WHST.11-12.1.e-Provide a concluding statement or
section that follows from or supports the argument
presented.
The Election Process ~
Standards
Major Issues Dealt
with by Executive
Branch in Current
Events
Legislative Branch
Essay Questions
10/9/2014
Content Lessons
compare and contrast the
major functions of the
Legislative Branch of
government.
Resources
Qualifications
for Members of
Congress
www.house.gov
www.senate.gov
House of
identify the major players in Representatives
the Legislative Branch.
Job
Descriptions &
review the qualifications
Salary
and terms of the major
players in the Legislative
Senate Job
Branch.
Description &
Salary
examine the salary and
benefits for the major
Leadership
players in the Legislative
Positions in
Branch.
Congress
analyze how the
qualifications differ from
what is actually needed to
be elected.
Current Issues
that Members of
Congress are
faced with
Students will understand the complexity of the election process.
Essential
Questions
Assessments Skills
5.2.12. D-Evaluate and demonstrate what makes
How does the election process Election Movie
competent and responsible citizens.
work and what do I need to
Project 10/31/2014
5.3.12. D-Evaluate the roles of political parties, interest know to be an informed
groups, and mass media in politics and public policy.
voter?
Election Process
5.3.12. E-Evaluate the fairness and effectiveness of the
Essay Questions
United States electoral processes, including the electoral
10/31/2014
college.
5.3.12. G-Evaluate the impact of interest groups in
Content
understand the timeline and Election
components of the election Process
process.
Propaganda
analyze propaganda
techniques that candidates Role of Media
use to get elected.
Role of Money
Lessons Resources
Movie
Maker
Election
Project
www.livingroomcandidate.com
www.opensecrets.org
Power Game Video
Road to Clean Elections
Video
Page | 3
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
developing public policy.
5.3.12. H-Evaluate the role of mass media in setting
public agenda and influencing political life.
5.3.12. J-Evaluate critical issues in various
contemporary governments.
5.4.12. D-Evaluate the role of mass media in world
politics.
5.4.12. E-Compare and contrast the politics of various
interest groups and evaluate their impact on foreign
policy.
RH.11-12.4-Determine the meaning of words and
phrases as they are used in a text, including analyzing
how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key
term over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison
defines faction in Federalist No. 10).
RH.11-12.7-Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of
information presented in diverse formats and media
(e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order
to address a question or solve a problem.
RH.11-12.8-Evaluate an author's premises, claims, and
evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other
information.
RH.11-12.9-Integrate information from diverse sources,
both primary and secondary, into a coherent
understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies
among sources.
WHST.11-12.6-Use technology, including the Internet, to
produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing
products in response to ongoing feedback, including new
arguments or information.
The Judicial Branch ~
Standards
examine the role of the
media in elections.
Role of Political
Action
examine the methods that Committees
candidates get their
message to the voters.
Debates
www.votesmart.org
examine the role of Political Commercials
Action Committees in
elections.
Political Parties
discuss the role of money
in political campaigns.
Clean Elections
understand the role of
debates in the election
process.
evaluate candidates based
on their political platforms.
understand the value of
political ads and
commercials.
compare and contrast the
platforms of major political
parties.
analyze the advantages
and disadvantages of clean
elections.
Students will examine the structure and function of the Judicial Branch.
Essential
Questions
5.3.12. A-Analyze the
What does the Judicial
changes in power and
Branch do?
authority among the three
branches of government
over time.
WHST.11-12.4-Produce
clear and coherent writing
in which the development,
organization, and style are
Assessments
Skills
Judicial Branch Essay
Question 11/17/2014
compare and contrast the History of the Judicial
major functions of the
Branch
Judicial Branch of
government.
Supreme Court Job
Description
identify the major players
in the Judicial Branch.
Content
Lessons
Resources
www.supremecourt.gov
Supreme Court Salary and
Benefits
Page | 4
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
review the qualifications
and terms of the major
players of the Judicial
Branch
Checks and Balances of
the Court
Current Supreme Court
Members and Issues
examine the salary and
benefits for the major
players of the Judicial
Branch
analyze how the
qualifications differ from
what is actually needed to
be selected.
Social Security ~ Students will understand the components and importance of Social Security.
Standards
Essential
Assessments Skills
Questions
6.3.12. A-Evaluate the costs and benefits of government decisions What is Social Social Security
to provide public goods and services.
Security?
Pretest
6.3.12. B-Assess the government's role in regulating and stabilizing
12/31/2014
the state and national economy.
Who qualifies
6.3.12. C-Evaluate the social, political, and economic costs/benefits for Social
of potential changes to taxation policies.
Security
6.5.12. A-Analyze the factors influencing wages.
benefits?
RH.11-12.3-Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and
determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, Why is it an
acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain.
important
RH.11-12.6-Evaluate authors' differing points of view on the same program?
historical event or issue by assessing the authors' claims, reasoning,
and evidence.
RH.11-12.7-Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information
presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually,
quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question
or solve a problem.
WHST.11-12.1.e-Provide a concluding statement or section that
follows from or supports the argument presented.
WHST.11-12.2.e-Provide a concluding statement or section that
follows from and supports the information or explanation provided
(e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).
WHST.11-12.4-Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
examine and
describe the history,
major principles and
the current rules and
regulations of Social
Security.
Content
History of
Social
Security
Lessons Resources
Social Security and You. A Teacher's
Resource Guide from the Social Security
Administration. SSA Publication No. 0510040. August 1995
Reasons for
Creation of
Social
Security
Who gets
Social
Security?
How is Social
Security
Financed?
Future of
Social
Security
Page | 5
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
Foreign Policy ~ Students will understand the effect of Foreign Policy on government economic issues.
Standards
Essential
Questions
Assessments
6.3.12. A-Evaluate the costs and benefits of government decisions How does
Foreign Policy
to provide public goods and services.
Foreign Policy Essay Question
6.5.12. E-Compare distribution of wealth across nations.
influence the 12/16/2014
5.4.12. B-Evaluate the effectiveness of foreign policy tools in
government
various current issues confronting the United States (e.g.,
and its
diplomacy, economic aid, military aid, sanctions, and treaties).
budget?
5.4.12. E-Compare and contrast the politics of various interest
groups and evaluate their impact on foreign policy.
RH.11-12.2-Determine the central ideas or information of a
primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that
makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
RH.11-12.6-Evaluate authors' differing points of view on the same
historical event or issue by assessing the authors' claims, reasoning,
and evidence.
WHST.11-12.1-Write arguments focused on discipline-specific
content.
WHST.11-12.1.e-Provide a concluding statement or section that
follows from or supports the argument presented.
Skills
Content
Examine the history
of Foreign Policy and
understand why so
much federal money
is spent there.
History of
Foreign
Policy
Lessons
Resources
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreignpolicy
Isolationism
Communist
Containment
WWII
Korean War
Vietnam
Conflict
War of
Terror
Cost of War
United
Nations
Cost of
Foreign
Policy
Current
Foreign
Policy
Page | 6
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
The Federal Budget ~ Students will examine Federal Budget issues.
Standards
6.1.12. B-Evaluate the economic reasoning behind a choice.
Evaluate effective allocation of resources for the production of
goods and services.
6.1.12. C-Analyze the opportunity cost of decisions made by
individuals, businesses, communities, and nations.
6.1.12. D-Predict how changes in incentives may affect the choices
made by individuals, businesses, communities, and nations.
6.2.12. D-Predict how changes in supply and demand affect
equilibrium price and quantity sold.
6.2.12. E-Evaluate the health of an economy (local, regional,
national, global) using economic indicators.
6.3.12. A-Evaluate the costs and benefits of government decisions
to provide public goods and services.
6.3.12. B-Assess the government's role in regulating and stabilizing
the state and national economy.
6.3.12. C-Evaluate the social, political, and economic costs/benefits
of potential changes to taxation policies.
6.3.12. D-Evaluate the role that governments play in international
trade.
6.4.12. D-Analyze how changes in transportation, communication
networks, and technology affect economic interdependence
around the world in the 21st century.
6.5.12. A-Analyze the factors influencing wages.
6.5.12. B-Evaluate how changes in education, incentives,
technology, and capital investment alter productivity.
6.5.12. D-Analyze the role of profits and losses in the allocation of
resources in a market economy.
6.5.12. F-Assess the impact of entrepreneurs on the economy.
6.5.12. H-Evaluate benefits and costs of changes in interest rates
for individuals and society.
RH.11-12.2-Determine the central ideas or information of a
primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that
makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
RH.11-12.3-Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and
determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence,
acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain.
WHST.11-12.1.e-Provide a concluding statement or section that
Essential
Questions
Assessments
How does the Federal Budget
economy
Essay Question
effect the
1/5/2015
government?
How does the
government
effect the
economy?
Skills
Content
investigate where the Current
Federal Government Federal
spends its money.
Budget
Priorities
understand how the
price of goods and
services are
determined and how
supply and demand
influence price.
Role of
Taxes
Federal
Deficit
Federal Debt
discuss how
government
Current
regulation and
Government
control of production
Economic
influence the
Decisions
economy.
Lessons
Resources
U.S. National Debt Clock
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock
The Federal Budget of the United States of
America
"Ten Trillion and Counting," Frontline, PBS
video, March 24, 2009
"Is America #1?" John Stossel ABC Video,
July 28, 2007
"Why Cheap Gas Is a Bad Habit." By Robert
J. Samuelson Newsweek, September 19,
2005
understand the
importance of taxes
and paying them.
students will
understand the
trickle down effects
of raising minimum
wage or giving tax
rebates.
compare and
contrast the
differences in the
major political
parties economic
philosophies in
government control
Page | 7
Teacher: CORE US Government/Economics
Year: 2014-15
Course: US Government/Economics
follows from or supports the argument presented.
WHST.11-12.4-Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
WHST.11-12.9-Draw evidence from informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research.
Entitlement Mentality ~
Standards
and regulation of
business and the
production of goods
and services.
understand the
difference between
the Federal Debt and
Federal Deficit.
Students will examine how the attitude of entitlement influences many government issues discussed in this course.
Essential
Questions
Assessments Skills
6.3.12. A-Evaluate the costs and benefits of
How does the entitlement
Teacher Created
government decisions to provide public goods and mentality in America
Final Exam
services.
exacerbate the problems that 1/14/2015
5.2.12. D-Evaluate and demonstrate what makes the government is attempting
competent and responsible citizens.
to solve?
RH.11-12.3-Evaluate various explanations for
actions or events and determine which explanation
best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging
where the text leaves matters uncertain.
RH.11-12.4-Determine the meaning of words and
phrases as they are used in a text, including
analyzing how an author uses and refines the
meaning of a key term over the course of a text
(e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist
No. 10).
RH.11-12.8-Evaluate an author's premises,
claims, and evidence by corroborating or
challenging them with other information.
WHST.11-12.4-Produce clear and coherent writing
in which the development, organization, and style
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Content
Lessons Resources
understand Robert J. Samuelson's Entitlement Mentality Entitlement Samuelson, Robert J.
paradox that led to the age of
Lesson Plan The Good Life and Its
entitlement mentality.
History of Entitlement
Discontents: The
American Dream in
Effects of Entitlement
the Age of
analyze the historical events that led
Entitlement. Vintage
to the paradox.
How can we end
1997
Entitlement?
examine how expectations about
what the government can and
should do for us have changed
since the end of World War II.
examine how people's expectations
have influenced the government's
expectations about what they
should do for the American people.
discuss how the current American
political system encourages
promises of stability and no risk.
hypothesize how we can change the
entitlement mentality in America.
Page | 8